Alleged rioter Dustin Thompson took the stand in his trial on Wednesday and told a Washington, DC, jury that he believed he had received “presidential orders” to go to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“Besides being ordered by the President to go to the Capitol, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Thompson told the jury. “I was caught up in the moment.”…

Thompson said he had listened to every speaker during the “Stop the Steal” rally that served as a prelude to the riot and that the speakers had relitigated allegations of fraud.

Thompson testified that after a year without work, he had felt good when Trump told the crowd they were “stronger” and “smarter” than anybody. He then went to the Capitol, Thompson said, because he “felt like I had to do something to gain his respect, his approval.”