Teri Kanefield Profile picture
Dec 14, 2021 16 tweets 8 min read Read on X
The D.C. AG v. insurrectionists lawsuit.

The complaint is here: s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2115…

My, what a lot of defendants (with room to add more).

The AG wants them on the hook for the cost of the damages, including punitive damages and attorney fees.

1/
The complaint alleges that these groups formed for the purpose of perpetuating violence.

It appears that the Oath Keepers took Reagan's statement that "government is the problem" to heart.

2/
"We will have to get violent to stop this."

Excuse me while I have a little rant:

These ⤵️are the kinds of details coming out in the indictments which Doom Twitter ignores because these are the "little guys" and so who cares?

Rant over.

Carry on.

3/
The complaint gives the violent history of the oath keepers, and the efforts of both groups to "Incite coordinated violence around the 2020 presidential election."

They used Trump's loss to recruit new members, who they called the "duly elected president."

4/
These details are to show that this wasn't an isolated event or something that they were riled to do at the moment. It was meticulously planned.

Premediated crimes are always worse.

They also conspired to undermine the formal voting process (also a crime.)

5/
The overarching point: "This was a coordinated plan for violence." #1

It will be "wild," they say.
Trump used that same word when he called people to D.C.

What a coincidence!

6/
("You are not "gentlemen,"⤵️ Teri says in her schoolmarm voice. Screenshot #1)

The Proud Boys will go "incognito." I mean how stupid do they think law enforcement is? FBI: "They're not wearing the right colors so we can't figure out who they are." 🙄 #2

7/
Very clear goals here. #1 and #2

There seems to be a dialogue between Trump and these particular "supporters." (#3 and #4)

(I have to take a bit of a break. Will return and keep reading later.)

8/
This makes it hard for Defendant Pezzola to say, "It wasn't me." #1

If you read good detective novels and watch thrillers, you might have the idea that people who commit crimes are masterminds. Generally . . . no. See #2

9/
Here they are, beating up a police officer. Save this for the next time a right-winger tells you that blue lives matter. # 1 and #2

The members of congress being evacuated are wearing gas masks. Many are now covering for the insurrectionists. #2

10/
They are gleefully coordinating their communication.

It's like they are absolutely giddy with the idea that they get to hurt and kill. #1

At least 65 Metropolitan Police officers were injured. #2

11/
Counts: 42 U.S.C. § 1985(1)
law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42…
Against all defendants.

42 U.S. Code § 1986
law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42…
Against all defendants.

Assault.
Battery.
Intentional infliction of emotional distress.

12/
Here's the problem for Republicans. (Actually, two faces of the same problem.)

First: These guys are their "base." Given the changing demographics, without them, they have no hope of winning anything other than very local elections.

Second. . .

13/
Second, they secretly sympathize. They think the federal government IS the problem. They dislike what the federal government has become since the New Deal and Civil Rights movement. They want all power to be local. They'd love to disband the entire federal government.

14/
The difference between putting DeJoy in charge of the USPS and storming the capital is a matter of degree.

You can either dismantle the federal government slowly or bring in wrecking balls.

To answer a few questions I see . . .

15/
This is how they leave open the possibility of adding new defendants ⤵️ as more people get charged criminally.

These defendants have already been charged criminally. (I think they all have)

(When I read this, I thought 'only 50' more?😆)

16/

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More from @Teri_Kanefield

Apr 29
Everyone will have a different opinion of the strength of the Manhattan criminal case against Trump.

I am offering no opinions on the strength or who will prevail.

I am saying that people are working too hard to explain the case and figure out the legal theory.

1/
The prosecution has everyone confused because they are framing the case as "election fraud" and "election interference" so everyone is trying to connect the crimes we know about to "election fraud."

2/

terikanefield.com/wheres-the-bee…
The legal theory of the case should be clear.

This would be clear: "It is election fraud. Here is how the evidence will support a charge of election fraud." Then show how the behavior supports election fraud.

Does this mean the prosecution will lose? No.

3/
Read 10 tweets
Mar 11
Finished. (Whew)

As promised, all about Legal pundits and the Outrage Industry, with a few cherished conspiracy theories carefully debunked.

Click here to start:

For years, I was perplexed by what I saw on Twitter. . .

1/ terikanefield.com/can-democracy-…
Image
It seemed to me that the dynamics of social media were making people more authoritarian.

Then I started reading experts in political communication and it all started making sense.


2/ terikanefield.com/can-democracy-…
Image
I wrote parts 1 - 5 in November. I thought I was finished, but I wasn't.

There were still things I didn't understand.

Writers often write to understand, so I kept reading, thinking, and writing.



3/ terikanefield.com/can-democracy-…
Image
Read 5 tweets
Mar 9
Whew! I finished.



Everything I promised: How to listen (or not listen) to legal pundits.

It's also about what is dangerous about the entire industry of punditry, speculation, and cable talk shows.

1/terikanefield.com/invented-narra…

For years I was perplexed by what I was seeing on left-leaning Twitter, political blogs, and partisan reporting.

I had the feeling that, in its way, what I was seeing was comparable to Fox: Lots of bad information and even unhinged conspiracy theories.
2terikanefield.com/invented-narra…
Of course, if I suggested that, I was blasted for "both-sidesing."

Then I discovered an area of scholarship: Communications and the overlap between communications and political science.

I read these books and light bulbs went on.

3/ Image
Read 11 tweets
Mar 2
If Trump can win with everything we know about him, what make people think a finding of guilt would change that?

It makes no sense.
Also what if the jury acquits? It can happen.

I do recall the same people thought impeachment and indictment would cause Trump to crumble.
Another contradiction: when people demanded indictments RIGHT NOW (in 2021 and early 2022) the reason was, "Everyone knows he's guilty! Look at all the evidence!"

We saw the J6 committee findings.

Trump isn't saying "I didn't do it." He's saying, "I had the right to do it."

2
We all know what he did. The question is, "Do people want a president who acts like Trump?"

A lot of people do.

People show me polls that a guilty finding would change minds.

I say rubbish. Use common sense. He lost in 2020 and he lost the popular vote in 2016. . .

3/
Read 6 tweets
Feb 29
The news takes 2 minutes to convey.

"Here is what the court did." That is news.

Listening to people speculate about why the court did it and what it means is not news.

It is entertainment.

But it is a special kind of entertainment.

1/
. . . because it is designed to keep people hooked. People need to stay glued to the screen for hour after hour.

But to hook people, you need to scare them. The Facebook whistleblower testified that content that produces strong emotions like anger gets more engagement.

2/
Fox does the same thing. There is a few minutes of news, but the facts get lost as commentators and TV personalities speculate and scare their audiences.

Before you yell at me for comparing MSNBC to FOX, read all of this:

3/terikanefield.com/can-democracy-…
Read 5 tweets
Feb 29
If I write another blog post addressing the outrage cycle here on Twitter and in the MSNBC ecosystem, it will be to explore why so many people who believe they are liberal or progressive actually want a police state.

1/
Today alone, a handful of people who consider themselves liberal or progressive told me that the "traitors need to be arrested and prosecuted."

In 2019, back when I wore myself out tamping down misinformation, I explained the legal meaning of treason.

2/
Back then, I now realize, people asked politely: "Can Trump be prosecuted for treason (over the Russia election stuff).

I explained that wouldn't happen.

Now it's different. It's more like fascist chants.

3/
Read 4 tweets

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