In a new court filing defending himself, former President Donald Trump is arguing he’s not responsible for the violent actions his supporters —like the Proud Boys— took on January 6, claiming they are solely responsible for their actions when he encouraged them to help him overturn the 2020 election.
According to Bloomberg News, Trump claimed in his filing that his words on Jan. 6 were in line with a president’s right to “take advantage of the bully pulpit” and that he “acted responsibly” during the speech, and that he had “simply called for peaceful and patriotic demonstrations.”
Trump also denies that he was threatening violence when he said it was “a very dangerous moment in our history” and that people are “not going to stand having this election stolen from them.”
Citing the filing, Bloomberg reported that “the complaint, which also names right-wing groups like the Proud Boys, alleges many of the defendants ‘planned, aided, and actively participated in that attack’ and that ‘all defendants are responsible for it.'”
Trump also tried to wash his hands from the violence:
“Speakers at political rallies do not owe a duty of care to members of Congress or Capitol Police Officers not at the rally,” defense attorney Jesse Binnall said on behalf of Trump in the Dec. 24 court filing, according to Bloomberg.
Trump’s motion comes as he asked the court to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of sparking the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.