UMass Lowell Domestic Terrorism Expert Available for Interviews
Image by Adrien Bisson
08/02/2023
Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus and Nancy Cicco
The indictment of former President Donald Trump for his alleged involvement in attempting to invalidate the 2020 presidential election results will likely not change the behavior of right-wing extremists in the country, according to Prof. James Forest, a UMass Lowell anti-terrorism expert who is available for interviews.
A federal grand jury today handed up a four-count indictment against Trump, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights, in relation to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results on Jan. 6, 2021. On that day, hordes of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol during an insurrection. Seven people died in connection with the assault and hundreds of others were injured.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt but rather a jury’s determination that enough evidence exists to charge a potential defendant with a crime. But, an indictment can be a method of holding individuals accountable, according to Forest, an internationally recognized counterterrorism and homeland security expert.
“Securing a democracy requires that all its citizens – regardless of wealth, race, et cetera – hold each other accountable for adhering to the rules and laws we have agreed upon as a society. The Jan. 6th-related indictment against Trump stems from this central democratic principle,” Forest said.
The indictment, however, will not change the behavior of many Trump supporters on the far right, he predicted.
“I doubt it will serve to provoke them to do anything they’re not already doing, nor will it convince them to pause for reflection and consider the inherent contradictions and failings of their convictions,” Forest said.
“Unfortunately, they are already convinced any such indictment is just additional ‘proof’ of an illegitimate government conspiring against Trump and, by extension, against people like them. They won’t see this is a legal and necessary effort to hold Trump accountable. In fact, one reason Trump appeals to those people is the fact that, throughout his entire life, he has refused to be held accountable for any number of lies, crimes and moral failings. And we have already seen their ‘circle the wagons’ defense of Trump in response to his previous indictments and impeachments.
“The fact that Trump continues to promote the blatant lie, widely believed by his supporters, that he won the 2020 election and it was ‘stolen’ from him – a lie that is a root cause of what happened on Jan. 6 – makes it even more unlikely this indictment will have any significant impact on right-wing extremists.”
Forest is a professor in UMass Lowell’s School of Criminology and Justice Studies, where he directs the university’s Security Studies program in its Center for Terrorism and Security Studies. The center leads and facilitates scientific research, education and training to help understand and respond to the evolution, convergence and complexity of domestic and foreign security challenges.
To arrange an interview with him, contact Emily Gowdey-Backus or Nancy Cicco.