The 'Trump made me do it' defense isn't working for Jan. 6 rioters. But it is revealing.
The Thompson case shows us why charging Trump would be dangerous. It also shows us why not charging him would be unthinkable.
Last week, an Ohio man was convicted for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. His defense at trial? Donald Trump made him do it.
The jury rejected Dustin Thompson's argument that he should be acquitted because he was simply following orders from the then-president, returning guilty verdicts on all six offenses Thompson was charged with, including obstruction of an official proceeding, a 20-year felony. Thompson's conviction should signal to the other 700-plus defendants charged in the attack that the "Trump-made-me-do it" defense is a loser.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-made-me-do-it-jan-6-defense-bad-news-n1294695