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Tom Dreisbach Profile picture
Tom Dreisbach
@TomDreisbach
NPR Investigative Correspondent | Email: tdreisbach@npr.org or tomdreisbach@protonmail.com | Signal: TDreisbach.01
6 subscribers
Jan 6 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.

Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.

🧵 As rioters violently overwhelmed the west front of the U.S. Capitol, one recorded himself yelling, "you better run cops!"
Jan 30, 2025 • 9 tweets • 5 min read
NEW:

We identified dozens of Jan. 6 rioters who had serious criminal records and received clemency from Trump.

Rape, manslaughter, sexual abuse of children, domestic violence and drug trafficking are among the crimes they were convicted of or charged with.

Thread: Image Rioter Matthew Huttle “spanked his 3-year-old son so hard that he left bruises all over the child's backside and the child's neck, and the child had such extreme pain on his backside that he could not sit properly for a week," prosecutors said.

documentcloud.org/documents/2550…Image
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Jan 21, 2025 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
Here are some of the Jan. 6 defendants who received a full and unconditional pardon from Trump tonight: David Dempsey was convicted of repeatedly assaulting police officers with pepper spray, a metal crutch and wooden and metal poles and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/cal…Image
Jan 6, 2025 • 28 tweets • 7 min read
As Donald Trump prepares to pardon people convicted for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, it's worth looking at what leading Republicans said in the immediate aftermath of that day's violence.

A thread: “A shrine to democracy for our country, and the world, was overrun by violent extremists seeking to overturn an election," said @SenJohnThune in Jan. 2021. "We must hold those responsible to account."

Thune is now Senate Majority leader.

argusleader.com/story/news/202…
Dec 2, 2024 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
NEW:

@DineshDSouza has issued an apology over his election conspiracy film “2,000 Mules” on his website.

D’Souza admits that the heart of the film - surveillance footage of vote drop boxes supposedly showing illegal “ballot trafficking” - is false and misleading. Image
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Image D’Souza’s apology is directed at a Georgia voter named Mark Andrews, who was depicted in the film as a ballot “mule,” when he was legally dropping off ballots for his family members.

Andrews has sued D’Souza and True the Vote over his appearance in the film, book and promos.
Oct 30, 2024 • 10 tweets • 6 min read
There were Jan. 6 rioters who carried guns during the attack on the Capitol.

At a Univision town hall this month, Trump claimed "we didn't have guns," referring to his supporters.

Here's how we know that's wrong

🧵 Guy Reffitt was the first Jan. 6 defendant to go to trial.

He was convicted of carrying a handgun onto Capitol grounds. He left his AR-15-style rifle back at his hotel.

Reffitt recorded himself bragging to other Trump supporters that he was armed.
Oct 22, 2024 • 15 tweets • 7 min read
NEW:

We reviewed Trump’s speeches, interviews, and social media posts since 2022 and found that he has made more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, jail or otherwise punish his opponents, whom he sometimes calls “the enemy from within.”

🧵 First and foremost, Trump targets his political opponents.

If he wins the presidential election, he has promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and Biden’s family on his first day in office.
Sep 12, 2024 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
NEW:

Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club hosted a convicted Jan. 6 rioter and alleged Nazi sympathizer twice this summer, where he was celebrated and gave speeches.

At one event, Trump sent a video praising the attendees as “amazing patriots.”

At the other, he won an award.
Image
Image The rioter, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, has a lengthy and well-documented history of extreme racist and antisemitic comments.

He allegedly told coworkers, “Hitler should have finished the job.”

In 2020, he posted a lengthy video rant against Jewish communities in New Jersey.
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May 31, 2024 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
The publisher of @DineshDSouza's election conspiracy theory film and book "2,000 Mules" has issued an apology to a Georgia voter accused in the film of illegal voting in the 2020 election.

"There will be no future distribution of the film or the book by Salem." Image @DineshDSouza Some key context Salem is a co-defendant, along with Dinesh D'Souza and True the Vote, in a lawsuit filed by this voter, Mark Andrews.

He is represented by lawyers with @protctdemocracy, which also represented the Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation.
May 1, 2024 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
New investigation:

Dozens of federal judges attended week-long seminars at luxury retreats - receiving free rooms, free meals and free money for travel worth thousands - and failed to fully disclose as required.

The judges with disclosure issues included some big names. Judge Aileen Cannon, currently presiding over Trump’s classified documents case, attended two week-long seminars at a luxury resort near Yellowstone National Park.

She failed to upload a disclosure within 30 days, as required.

The court said it was an “inadvertent” omission.
Jan 4, 2024 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Donald Trump has made calls to "free" Jan. 6 rioters or issue pardons more than a dozen times.

That would mean ending ongoing prosecutions; freeing defendants from prison; and allowing hundreds of those convicted of felonies to own guns again.

npr.org/2024/01/04/121… We reviewed Trump’s speeches, rallies and social media.

At times he has signaled support for freeing all Jan. 6 defendants. In interviews, he has suggested he would pardon “a large portion” outside of “a couple of them.”


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Oct 2, 2023 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
More legal fallout from "2,000 Mules":

A federal judge ruled that the defamation and voting rights lawsuit against Dinesh D'Souza, True the Vote, Salem Media, and Regnery can move forward, albeit with some counts dismissed.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco… Notably, the Judge's order describes the alleged conduct of D'Souza and True the Vote - making claims "based solely on conjecture and speculation" - as "disturbing." Image
Jun 30, 2023 • 37 tweets • 6 min read
The disciplinary trial of John Eastman is continuing today in State Bar Court of California.

We're expecting additional testimony by elections expert Justin Grimmer, who is testifying for the State Bar.

You can watch the livestream here: calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Unfortunately, it sounds like Judge Yvette Roland's microphone is off and we can't here her. I'm emailing the State Bar to notify them.
Jun 29, 2023 • 56 tweets • 11 min read
The State Bar trial of John Eastman is just getting started today.

Follow along here:


The last two days of proceedings were canceled, because Eastman's attorney was sick.

We're expecting the State Bar to continue its case against Eastman today.calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Eastman's attorney Randy Miller says he's feeling better, and thanks the State Bar's attorneys for the "civility and graciousness" they showed while he recuperated.
Jun 23, 2023 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Good morning from L.A.!

It's day 4 of the State Bar trial of pro-Trump attorney John Eastman.

This morning, he's set to continue testifying under oath.

Watch live here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 My wrap-up of the trial so far:
npr.org/2023/06/23/118…
Jun 22, 2023 • 27 tweets • 5 min read
Day 3 of the California State Bar disciplinary trial of John Eastman is getting started now.

We're expecting testimony from election officials across the country, along with additional testimony from Eastman himself.

You can watch the livestream here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 Last night, the State Bar filed a motion to block testimony from multiple people on Eastman's witness list, including Mark Finchem.

Finchem is a far-right Arizona politician connected to the Oath Keepers who ran unsuccessfully for AZ Secretary of State in 2022.
Jun 21, 2023 • 20 tweets • 4 min read
Court is resuming in the state bar disciplinary trial of John Eastman.

We're expecting Eastman's attorney to cross-examine Greg Jacob, who served as counsel to VP Pence.

Earlier today, Jacob testified that Eastman's legal theories helped contribute to the Capitol riot. You can watch the proceedings live via Zoom here:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232
Jun 21, 2023 • 36 tweets • 6 min read
Good morning.

It's Day 2 of the California State Bar trial of attorney John Eastman over his work to overturn the 2020 election.

Eastman is expected to continue his testimony.

I'm not in the courtroom today, but will be following via the public Zoom:
calbar.zoom.us/j/97985435232 I chatted with @NPRMichel on @UpFirst about Day 1:
npr.org/2023/06/21/118…
Jun 20, 2023 • 43 tweets • 9 min read
OK, we're back in California State Bar Court waiting for John Eastman to testify as he fights to keep his law license.

We heard opening statements from both sides, and Eastman is the very first witness up. Notably, Eastman repeatedly asserted his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination called to testify before the Jan. 6 Select Committee in Congress.

I've been wondering about his plans for this case, given that Jan. 6 remains under criminal investigation.
Jun 20, 2023 • 31 tweets • 4 min read
Good morning from beautiful downtown L.A., where attorney John Eastman is fighting to keep his law license.

I’m at the State Bar Court, where Eastman’s disciplinary trial kicks off today.

Eastman is on the witness list today, but we’ll see what happens. Image
Oct 25, 2022 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
New:

We compared the official release of @DineshDSouza's "2,000 Mules" election denial book with the version recalled by Regnery.

All references to specific, named nonprofits that D'Souza accused of "ballot trafficking" have been removed.

npr.org/2022/10/25/113… @DineshDSouza The film version of "2,000 Mules" alleged that left-wing nonprofits acted as "stash houses" for a "ballot trafficking" operation by the so-called ballot "mules."

D'Souza said the film did not name them for legal reasons, but promised the book would name names. Image