[Udik]

> Do the plotters use illegal and unconstitutional methods to seize executive power?

I have no clue why the author checks this. The rioters entered a building (which is by the way the seat of the legislative power) and that's it. Even if they had killed everyone inside, that wouldn't have put them an inch closer to seizing the power, as the power is simply not there. Power is alliances and a chain of command, not being in a room with shiny big buttons.

I do agree that Trump's position is ambiguous: one cannot deny that he was probably hoping for more. In that case he would be the only one to have imagined a coup, as the rioters were just a few... impressionables.

[dragonwriter]

> I have no clue why the author checks this. The rioters entered a building (which is by the way the seat of the legislative power) and that's it. Even if they had killed everyone inside, that wouldn't have put them an inch closer to seizing the power.

The fairly overt goal, articulated in only slightly elliptical language by the President in inciting the mob, was to cause, by intimidation, members of Congress to alter their behavior re: the count of electoral votes so that Trump would be declared the victor and thus retain executive power.

[Udik]

Oh well, for that he would have needed a mob of at least several millions. If that's what he really hoped for, he was off by at least four orders of magnitude.

[dragonwriter]

A stupid coup attempt is still a coup attempt.

[pseudalopex]

"Stop the steal" groups have imagined a coup for weeks. More than a few people stormed the Capitol. All coups need impressionables.

The insurrectionists thought most voters and at least 150 members of Congress supported them. The commander in chief egged them on. Coups have succeeded with weaker allies.

Some insurrectionists thought they could pressure enough members of Congress to block certification and send the election to the House. Some wanted Trump to declare martial law. Some openly welcome civil war.

Congress has executive functions too. Like counting electoral votes.

[krapp]

>"Stop the steal" groups have imagined a coup for weeks.

Those groups have imagined a coup for years. These are the same people who were rumbling about a cold civil war turning hot any moment now during the Obama years, quoting the revolutionary language of the Founding Fathers and strongly implying that something must be done about the leftist menace when they thought the Tea Party would actually follow through.