I am not accepting it at all. I am merely mentioning it as something I read which appears to have at least the possibility of being credible. Only a court case which found the truth and convicted someone would persuade me to accept it.

As neither of us was there to witness any of those events, or interview the participants, we have to rely on the reports and the news clips that are broadcasted. What I saw doesn't match what you describe or what was reported. The looters in particular seemed to come from a mix of racial types. What their political persuasion is cannot be ascertained simply by appearance so to assume they were "left-wing anarchists" is just an assumption that matches your desired narrative.

I don't recall ever dignifying anything Trump said as being a "rumour". Almost everything Trump says just comes straight off the top of his head. He just says whatever will suit him best at any particular moment. A rumour is something that you have also heard which has at least the possibility of being credible. Lies, yes he lies. It's what he does.

'I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how.'
(Stalin)

Edited by Stirlingsays (19 Jan 2021 1.10am)

‘But experts say there's no evidence Stalin ever uttered the words.’

Awkward.

[Link]

It really isn’t difficult to fact check before you post you realise?

I am not accepting it at all. I am merely mentioning it as something I read which appears to have at least the possibility of being credible. Only a court case which found the truth and convicted someone would persuade me to accept it.