Questioning the January 6 Aftermath

Tucker Carlson’s release of January 6^th footage raises questions about the status of free speech and due process of law. For more than two years, politicians, media, and big tech have worked together to proliferate a narrative: January 6^th was an entirely “violent insurrection,” and according to Vice President Kamala Harris, even on par with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the September 11^th terrorist attacks. Department of Justice (DoJ) prosecutors have worked diligently to publicize and penalize all participants, including the peaceful ones, to the most severe extent possible.

On March 3, 2023, during the “True Stories of January 6” panel at CPAC, some of the peaceful participants of the migrated Save America rally (often referred to as J-6ers) described the day and its aftermath. Yes, there was undoubtedly violence. But not all of protestors were violent, not even most. Like their fellow Americans who were horrified at the dominant media coverage of protestors breaking windows and wreaking havoc in and around the west side of the Capitol, the panelists all strongly condemned the violence.

Among them was Dr. Simone Gold, the founder of America’s Frontline Doctors, who had been invited to speak on January 6. She was on the east side of the building, which was peaceful, even “joyful,” said Gold. The doctor and Stanford-educated lawyer witnessed the 20,000-pound Columbus Doors opening, not forcefully, but from the inside. She assumed that meant she was allowed to enter the building.

While in the Capitol, Gold stayed within the velvet ropes and delivered her speech against government vaccine mandates and lockdowns. She told the CPAC audience that she “had never seen a more respectful crowd.” In her mind, they were not seditious rioters, but patriots and guests of the Capitol. If not, who opened the Columbus Doors for them and why was no one getting arrested? Gold was in the Capitol for about 45 minutes, 25 of which she was waiting for an opportunity to exit as more people poured into the building. Having enjoyed the experience and not knowing there was any wrongdoing, she posted a clip of peaceful footage on social media, which was subsequently banned. Social media outlets were removing peaceful footage, in favor of the clips quite familiar to us now.

Despite the extensive video footage supporting her claims, Gold was charged with obstructing a proceeding of Congress, a felony punishable by up to 24 years in prison. Like many other J-6ers facing the same charges, she accepted a plea deal. The U.S. district judge for the District of Columbia, Christopher Cooper, sentenced Gold to 60 days in prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release and a $9,500 fine…