As the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol nears, half of Americans believe the protest was a threat to democracy and a sizable majority want those charged to be prosecuted.
In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, 50% said that the “riot” a year ago was a “threat to American democracy.” Democrats and liberals overwhelmingly agreed, 75% and 80%. But 41% said it wasn’t a threat, a finding backed by 67% of Republicans.
And most want those rioters prosecuted. Rasmussen said that 63% said it was somewhat to very important that they face charges in the incident that led to former President Trump’s second impeachment and created a political division that lasts.
Both political sides plan to observe the first anniversary. President Biden and Vice President Harris plan to travel to the Capitol to address the protests and Trump is planning his own competing event.
Meanwhile, a House panel is readying to reveal some findings about what led to the riots that left one protester shot to death and over 700 arrests.
That panel has been probing reports and rumors that Trump supporters conspired to attack the Capitol and block the Electoral College election of Biden and Harris.
Rasmussen asked if voters believed there was a Trump conspiracy. The finding: 43% said no, to 35% who said yes.
In its analysis, Rasmussen added:
Beliefs about the fairness of the 2020 election clearly correlate with attitudes toward the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Among voters who think Biden won the election fairly, 84% believe the Capitol riot was a threat to American democracy. By contrast, among voters who don’t believe Biden was fairly elected, 82% don’t think the Jan. 6 riot represented a threat to democracy.
Similarly, among voters who don’t think Biden won the election fairly, only 22% believe it is important that the Capitol rioters be prosecuted, but among voters who think Biden was fairly elected, 93% believe it is important to prosecute those arrested for the Jan. 6 riot.
