Matt Braynard is the executive director of Look Ahead America, which describes itself as “an America First nonprofit dedicated to standing up for patriotic Americans who have been forgotten by our government.” He was earlier an analyst for the Republican party. 

Braynard started Look Ahead America after he was dismissed by Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. However, his fortunes did a complete 180 after Trump’s 2020 loss. He joined a group of Trump allies wanting to overturn the election. In the process, he earned recognition, money and fundraising windwall.

Braynard, after the November election, raised over $700,000 for a project that collected supposed evidence of voter fraud. 

Matt Braynard appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Bannon’s War Room, last month, where he announced that his group would hold a demonstration at the Capitol “to push back against the phony narrative that there was an insurrection” on January 6. He claimed that the mob that assailed Capitol Hill was “largely peaceful,” claiming that “this was a crowd that was egged on in many ways by Capitol police throwing flash-bang grenades into a relatively peaceful crowd.”

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According to an AP report a “review of court records, campaign finance disclosures and social media postings, as well as Braynard’s past interviews with journalists that he has posted online, document his efforts to build his influence over the past year, culminating in Saturday’s event.”

“At no point will I cancel this rally,” Braynard told WTOP radio in Washington. “This is happening even if I’m there by myself with a megaphone.”

Matt Baynard insisted in a statement to Newsweek that the rally would “100%” be peaceful. 

“We favor lawful prosecution and speedy trials for anyone who did commit violence on January 6 and condemn their actions,” said Braynard. 

“We are cooperating completely with multiple different police forces to ensure that everyone is safe. Anyone with the intent of committing violence has no business at our rally. Violence is completely contrary to the mission and values of Look Ahead America.”