Giuliani uses unfounded ‘Antifa’ argument to defend Trump

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Giuliani claimed in a Tweeter Friday this has since been deleted by Twitter that the siege of the Capitol was carried out “by groups like ANTIFA formed in the riot”.

Giuliani focused on self-proclaimed left-wing activist John Earle Sullivan of Utah, who was indicted in federal court Thursday on three counts related to the Capitol Riot, and argued that the presence and statements from Sullivan and other unidentified rioters indicate the assault was being pushed by forces opposed to Trump.

“We have people who have invaded like Mr. Sullivan and his group of rioters and raiders, apparently led by Black Lives Matter and whatever,” Giuliani said in a Thursday episode of his podcast titled “Another FRAME UP”.

He also claimed that the riot was something “the president had nothing to do with”.

The “Antifa” argument is just one of the many conspiracy theories Giuliani has pushed on Trump’s behalf since the November election. Giuliani, who is still expected to play a role in Trump’s impeachment defense even though the president has told staff not to pay him, did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.
Giuliani’s tweet was first reported by the Emptywheel blog, a site specializing in national security and civil liberties issues.

In the now deleted Tweet, Giuliani included a screenshot of a text allegedly from Sullivan’s brother, James, in which the sender claimed to be working with the FBI “to expose and put total blame on John” and more 200 Antifa members.

Neither Giuliani nor James Sullivan produced any evidence to support the claim that Antifa was involved in the January 6 riot. Federal law enforcement officials said they had found no evidence to suggest Antifa played a significant role in the insurgency.

John Sullivan and his brother James seem to be on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

James Sullivan is a strong supporter of Trump, according to his Facebook page. He is also the co-founder of Civilized Awakenings, a civil rights organization that seeks to help black conservatives “find real solutions to the problems facing black Americans.”
In a brief interview with CNN, a spokesperson for Civilized Awakenings confirmed that Sullivan spoke at a Proud Boys rally in Portland, but pointed out that neither he nor Civilized Awakenings were part of that group. The spokesperson also confirmed that Sullivan had been in contact with Rudy Giuliani, but declined to discuss details.

James Sullivan declined to comment.

Neither John Sullivan nor the lawyer representing him on the charges arising from the Capitol siege could be reached for comment on Friday evening. Attorney Peter Kern, who represents Sullivan in another criminal case filed this summer in Utah, declined to characterize any political affiliations Sullivan may have.

275 cases opened in Capitol riots investigation, US prosecutors say

During the siege, John Sullivan recorded the chaos and commented on what was going on. He has been charged with disorderly conduct, interfering with law enforcement and knowingly entering or staying in a restricted building, according to a criminal complaint. He was taken into custody in Utah, where he lives.

According to the complaint, Sullivan told the FBI he was an activist and journalist who filmed protests and riots, “but admitted he had no press title.” He told officers he was wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask and entered the building through a broken window, the affidavit states. As he stood outside the Capitol building before entering, he proclaimed, “Let’s burn this shit.”

Once inside, he can be heard on audio tape arguing with police and telling them to pull out or get hurt, according to the affidavit.

“You are putting yourself in danger,” he allegedly told the police. “People have spoken.” The arrest affidavit also says that as a crowd attempted to open the doors to part of the Capitol, Sullivan can be heard on the video saying, “Hey guys, I have a knife. J ‘ve got a knife. Let me go upstairs. “

Federal authorities have not identified John Sullivan as a member of Antifa and he denied supporting Antifa in an interview with a Utah newspaper last week. Sullivan said in the same interview that he did not encourage violence or vandalism.

Asked about some of the things he said during a 40 minute video he recorded of the incident, he replied, “When you’re in a massive crowd like this you have to blend in. in the mass.

The newspaper, The Deseret News, also reported in July that Sullivan was part of a group called “Insurgence USA” and had taken part in a protest in June in which he and others demonstrated to oppose a pro protest. -police planned. The newspaper reported that he was arrested after the protest and jailed for investigating “riots, threatening violence and criminal mischief”.

This case is ongoing, according to online court records. Kern said Sullivan’s arraignment has been postponed and he has yet to plead.

In August, Sullivan was in Washington, DC, speaking at a rally at the Black Lives Matter Plaza, according to a video on YouTube.

“We [expletive] about to burn this [expletive] “He told the crowd.” We have to get Trump straight out of that office over there.

He then led the crowd in a chant of “It’s time for a revolution”.

In the aftermath of last week’s siege on the Capitol, Sullivan appeared on CNN’s AC360 and ABC’s Good Morning America, commenting on dramatic footage he shot inside the Capitol.

“I am by no means on Trump’s side or on Biden’s side,” he told Anderson Cooper.



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