In a bombshell development that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed a filing from Special Counsel Jack Smith, revealing explosive new details about Donald Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6, 2021. The newly uncovered document pulls back the curtain on the moments surrounding then-Vice President Mike Pence’s evacuation and Trump’s indifferent response. This revelation, alongside new testimony, paints an even more damning picture of Trump’s role in the insurrection.
Trump’s “So What?” Moment
The most jaw-dropping revelation from the unsealed filing comes from an interaction that occurred as Mike Pence was taken to safety during the Capitol riot. According to the document, a witness testified that upon receiving news that Pence had been evacuated to a secure location, Trump responded with shocking nonchalance.
HOLY SHIT, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s filing for the January 6th case is unsealed. When trump found out Pence was being moved to a secure location, he said:
“So what.”😳 pic.twitter.com/MqO7aykD5j
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) October 2, 2024
Nicole Wallace, on her MSNBC show Deadline Whitehouse, brought attention to the alarming details of this exchange. Here’s what she shared:
“Upon receiving a phone call alerting him, Donald Trump, that Pence had been taken to a secure location, witness, P15, rushed to the dining room to inform the defendant, Donald Trump, in hopes that the defendant, Donald Trump, would take action to ensure Mike Pence’s safety.
Instead, after this person delivered the news, the defendant, Donald Trump, looked at him and said only, quote, ‘So what?’”
— Nicole Wallace
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This cavalier response from Trump is perhaps the most significant new revelation from the filing, showing a clear disregard for Pence’s safety during one of the most chaotic and dangerous moments in modern American history.
WOW! No one can vote for Trump after this!
The new Jack Smith Documents, released by Judge Chutkan really say that leading up to the violence of January 6, 2020, the Trump campaign literally said “Make them riot” and “Do it!”
There is no saving Trump’s chances after this.… pic.twitter.com/JBbphORmiv
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 2, 2024
A sampling of the pleas and persuasions Pence made to Trump to get him to acknowledge the truth of his election loss, from Jack Smith’s new motion pic.twitter.com/06ZRDdkkHG
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 2, 2024
WOW!
CNN’s Jake Tapper just showed how horrific this Jack Smith report that was just dropped, is for Trump.
“When the defendant lost the 2020 Presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try and stay in office. With private co-conspirator, the defendant launched a series of… pic.twitter.com/g9235kChAa
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 2, 2024
BREAKING: Judge Chutkan unseals Jack Smith’s redacted 165-page presidential immunity motion pic.twitter.com/aILqXTaVuw
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 2, 2024
New Evidence and Testimony Paint a Grim Picture
This newly unsealed document is part of a larger filing by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has been building a robust case against Trump concerning his role in the 2020 election interference and the events that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The detailed nature of the evidence has caused a stir, with legal experts and pundits alike recognizing its significance.
Axios succinctly described the importance of these filings in their latest report:
“The document contains multiple pieces of evidence never before seen in the public domain, including previously unreported testimony from witnesses directly involved with Donald Trump during the January 6th Capitol riot. Not only does it confirm Trump’s indifference to the safety of Vice President Mike Pence, but it also underscores the former president’s relentless push to overturn the 2020 election results, no matter the consequences.”
— Axios
The document details multiple alarming moments where Trump and his inner circle continued to pressure election officials, attempt to manipulate the results, and dismiss the unfolding violence, which led to the deaths of multiple people and the injury of over 140 law enforcement officers.
Legal Implications and What’s Next
With this damning new evidence in hand, Smith’s case against Trump is undeniably more potent. Legal analysts believe this newly revealed testimony could provide the backbone of an eventual conviction. The indifference Trump displayed toward Pence’s safety and the actions he took (or failed to take) during the insurrection add to an already compelling case that Trump was not just a bystander but an active participant in the efforts to upend the peaceful transfer of power.
Judge Tanya Chutkan’s unsealing of the document is also significant. This decision signals that the court is moving forward, and with every new piece of evidence, Trump’s defense becomes harder to maintain.
For those interested, the full unsealed filing can be found on DocumentCloud, and it is essential reading for anyone following this monumental case:
The Gravity of Trump’s Actions
What makes this new evidence particularly jarring is the human cost of Trump’s actions. Mike Pence’s security detail was not merely going through the motions on January 6th. According to testimony, these were men and women in fear for their lives, making desperate calls from the Capitol as the mob descended.
Nicole Wallace emphasized the new weight that this testimony brings to the case, citing the urgency of those moments and the lack of concern Trump exhibited:
“The cavalierness with which Donald Trump received that news certainly is news to me. You know? And it goes to Andrew’s point about a number of the allegations here not being just things we’ve seen before in the January 6th committee and in the transcripts that were generated by that committee’s investigation.”
— Nicole Wallace
The implications of Trump’s words and inaction extend far beyond political maneuvering. This is a matter of life and death for the officials involved, and the nation’s democratic foundations were shaken to their core.
The Public’s Reaction
The unsealing of this document has set social media ablaze, with citizens, political pundits, and legal experts all weighing in on the profound implications. Trump’s indifference toward his vice president has deepened the divide between his supporters and those who see his actions as unforgivable.
As MSNBC commentator Lisa Rubin aptly pointed out, this is far from a repeat of what the January 6th Committee uncovered. This is fresh, hard-hitting evidence that goes straight to the heart of Trump’s intentions and mindset during the chaos:
“There’s a whole lot of new content here in Nicole, and that is just one part of it.”
— Lisa Rubin
He’s Cooked
This unsealed filing from Jack Smith’s team is nothing short of explosive. It offers new and chilling insights into Trump’s behavior during one of the darkest days in American history. The evidence laid bare in this document not only strengthens the legal case against Trump but also raises important questions about his suitability for future leadership.
Trump’s reported “So what?” response is emblematic of a broader pattern of disregard for the rule of law and the sanctity of democracy. As the case moves forward, these revelations are bound to have a profound impact on both the legal proceedings and the political future of Donald Trump.
The evidence has been presented; now the courts—and the American public—will have to grapple with the consequences.
Featured image via AI + Public Domain
