'It's just been hell': Trump Jan. 6 rally attendee describes life after he was accused of being an FBI plant

Tom Boggioni
July 13, 2022



Trump supporters rioting at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. (Shutterstock.com)

In an interview with the New York Times, a supporter of Donald Trump who left his Arizona home to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6 described the downward spiral his life took after he was falsely accused by far-right provocateurs as being part of a covert FBI or "Deep State" plot to incite the Capitol riot.

Speaking with the Times' Alan Feuer, 61-year-old Rayy Epps he and his wife have gone into hiding and had their lives turned upside down because rightwing outlets have been desperate to pin the assault on the Capitol on factions trying to make Donald Trump and his fans look bad.

According to Epps, he was in D.C. on Jan. 6 and video clips show him exhorting the crowd on, and this those clips have been manipulated to make him look like part of what has been described as part of "a 'breach team' responsible for setting off the riot at the Capitol."

As Feuer wrote, "He traveled to Washington to back Mr. Trump, was taped urging people to go to the Capitol and was there himself on the day of the assault. But through a series of events that twisted his role, he became the face of this conspiracy theory about the F.B.I. as it spread from the fringes to the mainstream," adding, "The stories about Mr. Epps were quickly seized on by the Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who gave them a wider audience. They were also echoed by Republican members of Congress like Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas."

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The report goes on to note that the former president has also dragged Epps through the mud by bringing up his name at rallies when talking about the Big Lie.

Epps and his wife are currently seeking an attorney to represent them in a defamation suit against outlets that have spread the falsehoods and he sat down with the Times after they agreed to not disclose his whereabouts.

Telling Feuer, "All of this, it’s just been hell," he added, "I am at the center of this thing, and it’s the biggest farce that’s ever been. It’s just not right. The American people are being led down a path. I think it should be criminal.”

The report adds, "After leaving Arizona for the mountains months ago, the Eppses have not done much. They manage to spend time with their children — and some of their 37 grandchildren — but mostly keep to themselves. Mr. Epps has taken to wearing a wide-brimmed hat that hides his face. If people at the gas station or grocery store say he looks familiar, he will usually smile and then be on his way. While he wants to clear his name, he is under no illusion that he will ever manage to divorce it fully from the lies."

READ MORE: 'Angry' Trump is 'less of an alpha dog than he was 3 weeks ago': GOP strategist

Saying, "It has a been a nightmare,” he continued, "You can’t convince some people. There are extremists out there that you’ll never convince them that they’re wrong.”

https://www.rawstory.com/ray-epps-2657667791/

 

Deflection? I never said that nothing at all happened, just that what did happen was reported with an extreme exaggeration of what actually happened. There weren't miles of streets shut down, businesses did put up protective coverings, but those pictures were reported as the businesses had already been vandalized.

It's nice to know you ignore the blatant lie of roaming gangs that were killing cops.

 

Exaggeration in media reports finally triggered anon.
There may be hope yet.

 

Wow, ignorance is your superpower! I've always said this as these things were happening. You must have missed it in your haste to score points.

 

Ah.
Shooter must have missed all your rage posts about exaggerated trump posts.
Please, tell us more about how you do this.

 

Yeah, like the time they reported he had a group of people tear gassed for a photo-op.

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/01/867532070/trumps-unannounced-church-visit-angers-church-officials

They don't need to exaggerate. Trump is an exaggeration.

 

Attaboy.
*trying to leave before shooter's laughing triggers anon.

 

Yeah, I get it! It's always about me when you can't defend Trump's actions. Go ahead. Get it out of your system. Then you might be able to address the topic and not the poster.

 

Darn. Anon triggered.

Do you remember what you post?

"Wow, ignorance is your superpower! I've always said this as these things were happening. You must have missed it in your haste to score points."​

 

And still nothing about the topic. Another example of shooter obsessive quest at being all that he can be. Too bad all he can be is a troll.

 

Smack it again, genius

 

Really hard this time.
You almost got it.

 

What we have here is a failure on what we perceive as a peaceful protest and a riot.

Come On Man

Don't make me go get Corn Pop

 

And you believe that January 6th was a peaceful protest?

 

See that @the Farm Boy ?

Thats how a victim victimizes.

 

Obeidallah Says Lack of Reaction to Kinzinger Threats Shows Violence ‘Acceptable if Not Encouraged’ by ‘Un-American’ GOP
By Caleb HoweJul 16th, 2022, 6:42 pm
849 comments

Dean Obeidallah talked to Sam Stein on Saturday about the threatening voicemails released by Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger last week, and the lack of reaction on the part of the GOP in Kinzinger’s defense.

Obeidallah wrote about the death threats in article for MSNBC in which he said the voicemails reveal that the GOP is on a “dark” path, a sentiment he echoed on Saturday.


Stein, guest hosting for Ali Velshi, asked, “So once you go against Trump, then you’re fully disavowed from the Republican Party, is that it? Is it as simple as that?”

“This is about a deluge of vile voicemails released last week by Congressman Kinzinger. Death threats directed at him, his family, his wife, his child,” said Dean. “And this comes on the heels of a month ago, a letter sent handwritten to Adam Kinzinger’s house to his wife, that he released to the public, saying, ‘we’re going to take time, but Adam Kinzinger has broken his oath. We’re going to execute him and your son and you.'”

Obeidallah said the GOP demonstrates priorities by their reactions, pointing out how Rep. Kevin McCarthy responded to threats directed at Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

“When Republicans are concerned about threats, they speak out. When Brett Kavanaugh has threats, Kevin McCarthy was on the floor of the House, he’s on Fox News, tweeting about it all,” said Obeidallah. “Adam Kinzinger reveals these threats: nothing. And the message is clear. ‘We value certain lives. Those are on our team. But those who dare criticize our Donald Trump, our leader…’ Well, violence is at least acceptable, if not encouraged.”

Obeidallah referenced historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat in saying “These are dangerous times. We have a GOP that is an authoritarian movement that is literally embracing fascist tactics, using violence to acquire or retain political power.”


Obedeillah went on to say that not just Democrats but the media need to say out loud that the Republican party is an “authoritarian movement” and that it’s “un-American, it’s dangerous and it is fascism.”

“It is the base of the GOP that is going in that direction,” he said. “We’re going to a dark place. It’s scary to say that, but that’s the reality.”

In the segment, Stein briefly toyed with calling out violence or threats of violence on the left, but that reluctant impulse was quickly subdued by the commentary of the guests.

Watch the clip above, via MSNBC.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/obeidal...eptable-if-not-encouraged-by-un-american-gop/

 

'Unhinged': Right-Wing Lawmaker Ripped Over Gun-Toting 'Message' For Biden
Ed Mazza
Mon, July 18, 2022 at 3:09 AM



Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) fired off an angry video message aimed at President Joe Biden’s administration.

On the same day four people were killed in a mass shooting at an Indiana mall, and less than two months after a mass shooter at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, slaughtered 19 children and two teachers, Jackson tweeted:


Ronny Jackson

@RonnyJacksonTX
·
Follow



US House candidate, TX-13
I will NEVER give up my firearms. I will NEVER surrender my AR-15. If Democrats want to push an insane gun-grab, they can COME AND TAKE IT!










4:54 PM · Jul 17, 2022

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'Unhinged': Right-Wing Lawmaker Ripped Over Gun-Toting 'Message' For Biden
Ed Mazza
Mon, July 18, 2022 at 3:09 AM·4 min read

• Ronny Jackson
  American medical doctor, Physician to the President

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) fired off an angry video message aimed at President Joe Biden’s administration.

On the same day four people were killed in a mass shooting at an Indiana mall, and less than two months after a mass shooter at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, slaughtered 19 children and two teachers, Jackson tweeted:


Biden last month called for renewing the ban on sales of military-style assault weapons. But even in the face of repeated massacres by shooters who legally purchased the powerful rifles, Republicans have been steadfast in opposing reforms.

Jackson was once White House physician to presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, but has since turned into a conspiracy theorist ― and is so loyal to Trump that he once claimed the then-president could live to 200.

Jackson’s critics called him out over the video — and also targeted the dangerous way he was holding one of his weapons:




Daryle Lamont Jenkins

@DLamontJenkins
·
Follow
Rule #1 in firearm safety: Never point your firearm at anything you don't intend to shoot. Guess Ronny is a little pissed at his foot.









Ronny Jackson

@RonnyJacksonTX


US House candidate, TX-13
I will NEVER give up my firearms. I will NEVER surrender my AR-15. If Democrats want to push an insane gun-grab, they can COME AND TAKE IT!




7:28 PM · Jul 17, 2022


Spiro Agnew’s Ghost

@SpiroAgnewGhost
·
Follow
Sounds like a threat from a deranged, unhinged lunatic who happens to be a United States Congressman.









PatriotTakes

@patriottakes
Gun poser and Republican Ronny Jackson holds two AR-15s, tells Joe Biden to “come and get it.” Ronny, it’s “come and take it.” “Come and get it” is used to call people to get food. #ComeAndGetIt




6:58 PM · Jul 17, 2022


Chad Loder

@chadloder
·
Jul 17, 2022
Replying to @RonnyJacksonTX











Chad Loder

@chadloder
·
Follow
"His finger isn't on the trigger" Right. His finger is on the mag release Which means he'd probably drop the mag trying to shoulder the rifle. The safety is off. The mag window shows several rounds present. The bolt is in the forward position, too, Absolute clown show





10:19 PM · Jul 17, 2022

https://www.yahoo.com/news/unhinged-wing-lawmaker-ripped-over-090954610.html

 

How did the mass shooting in the Indiana mall end?