What does “intent” mean in the law?

It means that you did the act in question on purpose (i.e. not by accident).

It does NOT mean that you intended to break the law or do something wrong.

Many criminals believe what they are doing is justified or legal. They may not know that

their act was against the law.

For example, the black woman in TX who was sentenced to 5 years because she voted while she was on probation, did NOT know that she was breaking the law. She didn’t intend to do anything illegal. The court did not care. It ruled that she took the

steps to vote of her own accord and that the intent element was satisfied because she didn’t vote by accident.

While we can all agree that 5 years was a racist miscarriage of justice, the point is still clear.

Trump can claim he thought he was doing something legal all he

wants.

IT’S 100% IRRELEVANT to the elements of the crime.

Unless his lawyers can show that he accidentally stumbled onto the stage at the riot-rally, or that he went to the planning meeting at Trump hotel by accident because he thought it was a Kiwanis meeting, the intent

element of the crime is satisfied as a matter of law.