Anthony Antonio, who is accused of participating in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol says he takes responsibility for his actions, but that he would not have been there if former President Donald Trump did not encourage his supporters to walk down to the Capitol.
During an interview on CNN’s “New Day” Friday, Antonio said, “What happened that day should not have happened … I take full responsibility for my actions that day.”
Watch the video below:
“What happened shouldn’t have happened,” accused Jan. 6 Capitol rioter Anthony Antonio says. “I take full responsibility for my actions that day.”
— CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish (@CNNThisMorning) June 11, 2021
“This happened because we are so divided as a country that we need to come together and provide unity with each other.” pic.twitter.com/cXDQEgDC2k
Antonio also said he was in Washington, D.C., because “the President of the United States, who at the time he was still the President of the United States, calls all of us to D.C. Let’s go check it out. Let’s go see why he’s calling us to D.C. … Let’s go because he told us to.”
He went on to say that anticipated that it would be a “super organized” event and that he planned to go to another location where there were supposed to be more events. However, he claimed his plans changed after Trump told supporters to go to the Capitol.
When asked “how responsible” Trump is for the events that day, Antonio said, “He called people to Washington, D.C., that day. He said ‘march down to the Capitol.'”
“I personally would not have marched down Pennsylvania Avenue and walked to the Capitol on the grass of the Capitol. I told you where I was supposed to go. I was supposed to go to Freedom Plaza. That was my plan from the get-go. And if [Trump] didn’t say ‘go down to the Capitol,’ I wouldn’t have went down to the Capitol.”
More from accused Capitol rioter Anthony Antonio: "I was supposed to go to Freedom Plaza, that was my plan … if [Trump] didn't say 'go down to the Capitol,' I wouldn't have gone down to the Capitol." pic.twitter.com/pLbcJuZLHm
— The Recount (@therecount) June 11, 2021
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on the charge of “incitement of insurrection” as lawmakers alleged he was responsible for the violence that day.
During a speech to supporters before the riot, Trump said, “And after this, we’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you .… We are going to the Capitol, and we are going to try and give … going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), in a statement announcing her decision to vote to impeach Trump, said that he “summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.”
The Senate voted to acquit Trump on the charge.
