Aug 21, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Former Jan. 6 committee chair says Trump is "plotting again"

Andrew Solender

Rep. Bennie Thompson, wearing a blue suit and holding up a finger while standing at a wooden podium. — Rep. Bennie Thompson speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on Aug. 21, 2024. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said during a speech to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday that former President Trump is "plotting again" to steal the 2024 election.

Why it matter: Thompson spent nearly two years as chair of the Jan. 6 Select Committee investigating Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the Jan. 6 attack.

Driving the news: Thompson spoke following a video which noted that Trump has floated the idea of pardons for Capitol rioters and been charged for his actions related to Jan. 6.

The video added: "If re-elected, he will never be held accountable."
Thompson said the rioters "did it because Donald Trump couldn't handle losing," adding, "Now, he's plotting again."
"His campaign proclaims that elections won't end until the moment of inauguration. 'We will win, or it was rigged. We win or else' ... choose democracy, not political violence," Thompson said.

Context: Thompson was citing a comment by Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, who said earlier this month, "It's not over on election day. It's over on inauguration day."

The other side: "Is Bennie Thompson making the absurd claim that President Trump stole the election in 2016?" Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to Axios.

"Bennie is a vile and despicable piece of trash who is clearly suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome who can't get over 2016."

Go deeper: DNC lineup: Who's speaking and what to expect

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Former Jan. 6 committee chair says Trump is "plotting again"

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