Transcript of the eighth Jan. 6 committee on its investigation : NPR

uly Under, learn the total transcript from the July 12 listening to of the Home choose committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol assault. The transcript was produced by CQ.

LIZ CHENEY: The committee might be so as.

BENNIE THOMPSON: Good night. Earlier this week, I obtained a constructive COVID analysis. Per CDC tips, I’ve obtained the preliminary two photographs and all the boosters. To this point, I’ve been blessed to expertise very minimal signs. As a result of I am nonetheless quarantined, I can not take part in particular person with my colleagues. I’ve requested our vice chair, Ms. Cheney, to preside over this night’s listening to, together with sustaining order within the room and swearing in our witnesses.

Over the past month and a half, the Choose Committee has instructed the story of a president who did every little thing in his energy to overturn an election. He lied. He bullied. He betrayed his oath. He tried to destroy our democratic establishments. He summoned a mob to Washington. Afterward, on January sixth when he knew that the assembled mob was closely armed and indignant, he commanded the mob to go to the Capitol, and he emphatically commanded the closely armed mob to struggle like hell.

For the weeks between the November election and January sixth, Donald Trump was a drive to be reckoned with. He shrugged off the factuality and legality right sober recommendation of his educated and wise advisers. As an alternative, he recklessly blazed a path of lawlessness and corruption, the price of which democracy be damned.

After which he stopped. For 187 minutes on January sixth, this man of unbridled damaging power couldn’t be moved, not by his aides, not by his allies, not by the violent chants of rioters, or the determined pleas of these dealing with down the riot. And extra tellingly, Donald Trump ignored and disregarded the determined pleas of his family, together with Ivanka and Don Junior.

Although he was the one particular person on the earth who might name off the mob he despatched to the Capitol, he couldn’t be moved to rise from his eating room desk and stroll the few steps down the White Home hallway into the press briefing room, the place cameras have been anxiously and desperately ready to hold his message to the armed and violent mob savagely beating and killing regulation enforcement officers ravaging the Capitol and looking down the vice chairman and varied members of Congress.

He couldn’t be moved. This night, my colleagues, Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois and Ms. Luria of Virginia, will take you contained in the White Home throughout these 187 minutes. We additionally remind you of what was taking place on the Capitol minute by minute, as the ultimate violent, tragic a part of Donald Trump’s scheme to cling to energy unraveled whereas he ignored his advisers, stood by, and watched it unfold on tv.

Let me provide a remaining thought in regards to the Choose Committee’s work thus far. As we have made clear all through these hearings, our investigation goes ahead. We proceed to obtain new data day-after-day. We proceed to listen to from witnesses. We are going to reconvene in September to proceed laying out our findings to the American individuals.

However as that work goes ahead, numerous details are clear. There may be little question that there was a coordinated, multistep effort to overturn an election overseen and directed by Donald Trump. There may be little question that he commanded a mob, a mob he knew was closely armed, violent, and indignant, to march on the Capitol to attempt to cease the peaceable switch of energy.

And he made targets out of his personal vice chairman and the lawmakers gathered to do the individuals’s work. These details have gone undisputed, and so there must be accountability, accountability underneath the regulation, accountability to the American individuals, accountability at each degree, from the native precincts in lots of states the place Donald Trump and his allies attacked election staff for simply doing their jobs, all of the Method as much as the Oval Workplace, the place Donald Trump embraced the authorized recommendation of insurrectionists {that a} federal choose has already mentioned was a coup seeking a authorized concept.

Our democracy withstood the assault on January sixth. If there isn’t a accountability for January sixth, for each a part of this scheme, I worry that we are going to not overcome the continued risk to our democracy. There have to be stiff penalties for these accountable. Now I will flip issues over to our vice chair to begin telling this story.

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks, Mr. Chairman. With out objection, the presiding officer is allowed to declare the committee in recess at any level. Pursuant to Home Deposition Authority Regulation 10, I announce that the committee has permitted the discharge of the deposition materials introduced throughout immediately’s listening to. And let me start tonight by wishing Chairman Thompson a fast restoration from COVID. He has expertly led us by means of eight hearings thus far, and he has introduced us to the purpose we’re immediately.

In our preliminary listening to, the chairman and I described what in the end turned Donald Trump’s seven half plan to overturn the 2020 presidential election, a plan stretching from earlier than Election Day by means of January sixth. On the shut of immediately’s listening to, our ninth, we can have addressed every ingredient of that plan.

However in the middle of these hearings, we now have obtained new proof, and new witnesses have bravely stepped ahead. Efforts to litigate and overcome immunity and govt privilege claims have been profitable, and people proceed. Doorways have opened, new subpoenas have been issued, and the dam has begun to interrupt.

And now, whilst we conduct our ninth listening to, we now have significantly extra to do. We have now way more proof to share with the American individuals and extra to collect, so our committee will spend August pursuing rising data on a number of fronts earlier than convening additional hearings this September. As we speak we all know way more in regards to the president’s plans and actions to overturn the election than nearly all members of Congress did when President Trump was impeached on January thirteenth, 2021 or when he was tried by the Senate in February of that 12 months.

57 of 100 Senators voted to convict President Trump at the moment, and greater than 20 others mentioned they have been voting in opposition to conviction as a result of the president’s time period had already expired. On the time, the Republican chief of the US Senate mentioned this about Donald Trump. [Begin videotape]

MITCH MCCONNELL: A mob was assaulting the Capitol in his title. These criminals have been carrying his banners, hanging his flags, and screaming their loyalty to him. It was apparent that solely President Trump might finish this. He was the one one. [End videotape]

LIZ CHENEY: Chief McConnell reached these conclusions primarily based on what he knew then with none of the rather more detailed proof you will notice immediately. Lawlessness and violence started on the Capitol on January sixth, 2021 earlier than 1:00 PM and continued till properly after darkness fell. What precisely was our commander in chief doing throughout the hours of violence?

As we speak we tackle exactly that problem. All the things you have heard in these hearings up to now will provide help to perceive President Trump’s motives throughout the violence. You already know Donald Trump’s objective: to halt or delay Congress’s official proceedings to depend licensed electoral votes. You understand that Donald Trump tried to strain his vice chairman to illegally reject votes and delay the proceedings.

You understand he tried to persuade state officers and state legislators to flip their electoral votes from Biden to Trump. And you realize Donald Trump tried to deprave our Division of Justice to assist his scheme. However by January sixth, none of that had labored. Just one factor was succeeding on the afternoon of January sixth. Just one factor was reaching President Trump’s objective.

The indignant, armed mob President Trump despatched to the Capitol broke by means of safety, invaded the Capitol, and compelled the vote counting to cease. That mob was violent and damaging, and lots of got here armed. As you’ll hear, Secret Service brokers defending the vice chairman have been exceptionally involved about his security and their very own.

Republican chief Kevin McCarthy was scared, as have been others in Congress, even those that themselves helped to impress the violence. And as you will notice immediately, Donald Trump’s personal White Home counsel, his personal White Home workers, members of his family all implored him to right away intervene to sentence the violence and instruct his supporters to face down, go away the Capitol, and disperse.

For a number of hours, he wouldn’t. Donald Trump wouldn’t get on the telephone and order the navy or regulation enforcement businesses to assist. And for hours, Donald Trump selected to not reply the pleas from Congress, from his personal celebration, and from all throughout our nation to do what his oath required. He refused to defend our nation and our Structure.

He refused to do what each American President should. Within the days after January sixth, nearly no certainly one of any political celebration would defend President Trump’s conduct and nobody ought to accomplish that immediately. Thanks, and I now acknowledge the gentlewoman from Virginia.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks, Madam Vice Chair. Article Two of our Structure requires that the president swear a really particular oath each 4 years. Each president swears or affirms to faithfully execute the workplace of President of the US and to one of the best of their means protect, shield, and defend the Structure of the US.

The president additionally assumes the constitutional obligation to take care that our nation’s legal guidelines be faithfully executed and is the commander in chief of our navy. Our hearings have proven the various methods wherein President Trump tried to cease the peaceable switch of energy within the days main as much as January sixth. With every step of his plan he betrayed his oath of workplace and was derelict in his obligation.

Tonight, we are going to additional study President Trump’s actions on the day of the assault on the Capitol. Early that afternoon, President Trump instructed tens of 1000’s of supporters at and close to the ellipse rally, numerous whom he knew have been armed with varied sorts of weapons, to march to the Capitol. After telling the group to March a number of instances, he promised he could be with them and completed his remarks at 1:10 p.m. like this. [Begin Videotape]

DONALD TRUMP: We’ll stroll down and I will be there with you. We’ll stroll down. [Applause] We’ll stroll down anybody you need, however I feel proper right here. We’ll stroll right down to the Capitol. [Applause] So let’s stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: By this time, the Vice President was within the Capitol. The joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s victory was underway and the Proud Boys and different rioters had stormed by means of the primary boundaries and begun the assault.

Radio communications from regulation enforcement knowledgeable Secret Service and people within the White Home State of affairs Room of those developments in actual time. On the path of President Trump, 1000’s extra rioters marched from the ellipse to the Capitol they usually joined the assault. As you will notice in nice element tonight, President Trump was being suggested by practically everybody to right away instruct his supporters to depart the capital disperse and halt the violence.

Nearly everybody instructed President Trump to sentence the violence in clear and unmistakable phrases. And people on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation begged President Trump to assist. However the former President selected to not do what all of these individuals begged. He refused to inform the mob to depart till 4:17, when he tweeted out a video assertion filmed within the Rose Backyard ending with this.

[Begin Videotape]

DONALD TRUMP: So go residence. We love you. You are very particular. You have seen what occurs. You see the best way others are handled which are so unhealthy and so evil. I understand how you are feeling. However go residence and go residence in peace. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: By that point, two pipe bombs had been discovered at places close to the Capitol together with the place the Vice President elect was conducting a gathering. Hours of hand-to-hand fight had severely injured scores of regulation enforcement officers. The Capitol had been invaded, the electoral depend had been halted as members have been evacuated.

Rioters took the ground of the Senate. They rifled by means of desks and broke into places of work, they usually practically caught as much as Vice President Pence. Weapons have been drawn on the Home flooring and a rioter was shot trying to infiltrate the chamber. We all know that numerous rioters meant acts of bodily violence in opposition to particular elected officers.

We all know just about all of the rioters have been motivated by President Trump’s rhetoric that the election had been stolen, they usually felt they wanted to take their nation again. This listening to is principally about what occurred within the White Home that afternoon. From the time when President Trump ended his speech till the second when he lastly instructed the mob to go residence, a span of 187 minutes, greater than three hours.

What you’ll study is that President Trump sat in his eating room and watched the assault on tv, whereas his senior most workers, closest advisors, and relations begged him to do what is predicted of any American President. I served proudly for 20 years as an officer in the US Navy. Veterans of our armed forces know firsthand the management that is required in a time of disaster, pressing and decisive motion that places obligation and nation first.

However on January sixth, when lives and our democracy hung within the stability, President Trump refused to behave due to his egocentric want to remain in energy. And I yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Kinzinger.

ADAM KINZINGER: Thanks. Thanks, Ms. Luria. One week after the assault, Republican chief Kevin McCarthy acknowledged the easy reality. President Trump ought to have acted instantly to cease the violence. Throughout our investigation Common Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, additionally remarked on the President’s failure to behave. Let’s hear what they needed to say. [Begin Videotape]

KEVIN MCCARTHY: The President bears accountability for Wednesday’s assault on Congress by mob rioters. He ought to have instantly denounced the mob when he noticed what was unfolding. These details require rapid motion by President Trump.

MARK MILLEY: Yeah. You understand, Commander in Chief, you bought an assault happening on the Capitol of the US of America. And there is nothing? No name? Nothing? Zero? [End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Like my colleague from Virginia, I am a veteran. I served within the Air Power and I serve presently within the Air Nationwide Guard. I can let you know that Common Milley’s response to President Trump’s conduct is 100% right and so was Chief McCarthy’s. What explains President Trump’s habits? Why did he not take rapid motion in a time of disaster?

As a result of President Trump’s plan for January sixth was to halt or delay Congress’s official continuing to depend the votes. The mob attacked the Capitol fast — the — the mob attacking the Capitol shortly prompted the evacuation of each the Home and the Senate. The depend floor to an absolute halt and was in the end delayed for hours.

The mob was undertaking President Trump’s goal, so in fact he did not intervene. Here is what’ll be clear by the top of this listening to. President Trump didn’t fail to behave throughout the 187 minutes between leaving the ellipse and telling the mob to go residence. He selected to not act. However there have been tons of that day who honored their oaths and put their lives on the road to guard the individuals contained in the Capitol and to safeguard our democracy.

A lot of them are right here tonight with us and lots of extra are watching from residence. As you already know and we’ll see once more tonight, their service and sacrifice shines a vibrant gentle on President Trump’s dishonor and dereliction of obligation. I yield to the Vice Chair.

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks very a lot, Mr. Kinzinger. I would like to start by welcoming our witnesses this night. Tonight, we’re joined by Mr. Matthew Pottinger. Mr. Pottinger is a adorned former Marine intelligence officer who served this nation on excursions of obligation in Afghanistan and Iraq. He served within the Trump White Home from the primary day of the Administration by means of the early morning hours of January seventh, 2021. The final function wherein he served within the White Home was as Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor to the President of the US.

We’re additionally joined by Sarah Matthews. Ms. Matthews began her profession in communications, engaged on Capitol Hill serving on the Republican staffs of a number of Home committees. She then labored as Deputy Press Secretary for President Trump’s reelection marketing campaign earlier than becoming a member of the Trump White Home in June of 2020. She served there as Deputy Press Secretary and Particular Assistant to the President till the night of January sixth, 2021. I’ll now swear in our witnesses.

The witnesses will please stand and lift their proper palms. Do you swear or affirm underneath penalty of perjury that the testimony you might be about to present is the reality, the entire reality, and nothing however the reality so provide help to God? Thanks. It’s possible you’ll be seated. And let the report mirror that the witnesses answered within the affirmative.

Thanks each once more for being right here tonight. Mr. Pottinger, thanks on your service to the nation in addition to — as for becoming a member of us this night. Are you able to please briefly clarify what your duties have been as Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor to the President?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Thanks, Madam, Vice Chair Once I began on the White Home, I used to be a Senior Director for Asia on the Nationwide Safety Council workers. In order that was a job that concerned serving to coordinate the President’s Asia coverage. I supported the President when he met or interacted with Asian leaders. Later, 2019 I used to be promoted to the job of Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor.

In that function, I used to be the Chairman of the deputies committee. That is an NSC assembly of all of the deputy cupboard secretaries. We’d settle vital issues of — of nationwide coverage associated to — to our nationwide safety. And we might additionally tee up choices for the President and for his cupboard members. It was — I — I felt then as I do now that it was a privilege to serve within the White Home.

I am additionally very happy with President Trump’s international coverage accomplishments. We have been capable of lastly compete with China. We have been additionally capable of dealer peace agreements between Israel and — and three Arab states. I imply, these are some examples of the sorts of insurance policies that I feel made our nation safer.

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks, Mr. Pottinger. And have been you within the White Home throughout the assault on the Capitol on January sixth?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: For a lot of the day I used to be within the White Home, though when the — the President was talking on the rally I used to be really offsite at a scheduled assembly with India’s ambassador to the US. The Nationwide Safety Council workers was not concerned in organizing the safety for what was a home occasion, the rally.

However I did return to the White Home at roughly 2:30 p.m..

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks. And I do know my colleagues can have further questions for you about that afternoon. Let me flip now to you, Ms. Mathews. How did you come to affix President Trump’s White Home workers?

SARAH MATTHEWS: Thanks, Madam Vice Chair. As you outlined, I’m a lifelong Republican and I joined the Trump reelection marketing campaign in June of 2019. I used to be one of many first communications staffers really on board for his reelection marketing campaign. And through that point I traveled throughout the nation and met Kayleigh McEnany, who was additionally engaged on his reelection marketing campaign.

I labored there for a 12 months and I shaped an in depth relationship with Ms. McEnany and he or she moved over to the White Home in April of 2020 to begin as White Home Press Secretary and he or she introduced over a bunch of marketing campaign workers together with her. And so I joined her over on the White Home in June of 2020 to begin as her Deputy.

LIZ CHENEY: And have been you, Ms. Matthews, at work within the White Home on January sixth?

SARAH MATTHEWS: Sure, I used to be figuring out of the West Wing that day.

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks. And now I would like to acknowledge the gentlewoman from Virginia and the gentleman from Illinois.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks, Madam Vice Chair. As you have seen in our prior hearings, President Trump summoned the mob to DC on January sixth. Earlier than he went on stage he knew a few of them have been armed and ready for fight. Throughout his speech he implored them to march to the Capitol as he had at all times deliberate to do. By the point he walked off the stage, his supporters had already breached the outer perimeter of the Capitol on the foot of Capitol Hill.

Since our final hearings, we have obtained new testimony from a safety skilled working within the White Home advanced on January sixth with entry to related data and accountability to report back to nationwide safety officers. This safety official instructed us that the White Home was conscious of a number of studies of weapons within the crowd that morning.

We as a committee are cognizant of the worry of retribution expressed by sure nationwide safety witnesses who’ve come ahead to inform the reality. We have due to this fact taken steps to guard this nationwide safety particular person’s identification.

Take heed to this clip from their testimony.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: What was the constant message from the individuals about this concept of the President to stroll to the Capitol? To be fully trustworthy, we have been all in a state of shock. As a result of why? As a result of — as a result of it simply — one, I feel the precise bodily feasibility of doing it. After which additionally all of us knew what that implicated and what that meant.

That this was not a rally, that this was going to maneuver to one thing else if he bodily walked to the Capitol. I — I do not know if you wish to use the phrase rebellion, coup, no matter. All of us knew that this may transfer from a traditional, democratic, you realize, public occasion into one thing else. What was — what was driving that sentiment contemplating this — this — this a part of it, the precise breach of the Capitol hadn’t occurred but.

Why have been we alarmed? Proper. The President wished to steer tens of 1000’s of individuals to the Capitol. I feel that was sufficient grounds for us to be alarmed.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Although he understood lots of his supporters have been armed, the President was nonetheless adamant to go to the Capitol when he acquired off the stage on the ellipse. However his Secret Service element was equally decided to not let him go. That led to a heated argument with the element that delayed the departure of the motorcade to the White Home.

We have now proof from a number of sources relating to an indignant change within the Presidential SUV, together with testimony we are going to disclose immediately from two witnesses who confirmed {that a} confrontation occurred. The primary witness is a former White Home worker with nationwide safety duties. After seeing the preliminary violence on the Capitol on TV, the person went to see Tony Ornato, the Deputy Chief of Workers in his workplace.

ELAINE LURIA: Mr. Ornato was there with Bobby Engel, the President’s lead Secret Service agent. This worker instructed us that Mr. Ornato mentioned the President was quote, “irate”, when Mr. Engel refused to drive him to the Capitol. Mr. Engel didn’t refute what Mr. Ornato mentioned. The second witness is retired Sergeant Mark Robinson of the DC Police Division who was assigned to the President’s motorcade that day. He sat within the lead automobile with the Secret Service agent accountable for the motorcade, additionally referred to as the TS agent.

Here is how Sergeant Robinson remembered the change. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: Was there any description of what — of what was occurring within the automobile?

MARK ROBINSON: No, solely that on — the one description I obtained was that the President was upset and was adamant about going to the Capitol and there was a heated dialogue about that.

UNKNOWN: And once you say heated, is that your phrase or is that the phrase that was described by the TS agent?

MARK ROBINSON: No — phrase described by the TS agent, that means that the President was upset and he was saying there was a heated argument or dialogue about going to the Capitol.

UNKNOWN: About what number of instances would you say you have been a part of that motorcade with President?

MARK ROBINSON: Ha. Ha. Ha. In all probability over 100 instances.

UNKNOWN: And in that 100 instances, have you ever ever witnessed one other dialogue of an argument or heated dialogue with the President the place the President was contradicting the place he was imagined to go or what the Secret Service believed was protected?

MARK ROBINSON: No.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Like different witnesses, Sergeant Robinson additionally testified that he was conscious that people within the crowd have been armed. [Begin Videotape]

MARK ROBINSON: Sure, I consider he was on particular occasions channel in — I used to be monitoring the visitors. So I can hear a few of the unit mentioning to people that there have been people alongside Structure Avenue that have been armed that have been up within the bushes and I can hear the models responding to these people. So there’s at all times a priority when there is a [POTUS] within the space.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: And like different witnesses, Sergeant Robinson instructed us that the President nonetheless wished to journey to the Capitol even after returning to the White Home.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: So on the finish of the speech, what was the plan imagined to be?

MARK ROBINSON: So on the finish of the speech, we do know that whereas contained in the limo, the President was nonetheless adamant about going to the Capitol. That is been relayed to me by the TS agent. And so we did [depart] the Ellipse and we responded again to the White Home. Nonetheless, we on the motorcade — POTUS motorcade was positioned on standby.

And so we have been instructed to face by on the West exac [ph] till they confirmed whether or not or not the President was going to go to the Capitol. And so I’ll have waited, I’d simply estimate perhaps 45 to — 45 minutes to an hour ready for Secret Service to make that call. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: The motorcade waited on the White Home for greater than 45 minutes earlier than being launched. The committee can be conscious that accounts of the indignant confrontation within the Presidential SUV have circulated extensively among the many Secret Service since January sixth. Latest disclosures have additionally prompted the committee to subpoena but additional data from the Secret Service, which we have begun to obtain and can proceed to evaluate.

The committee can be conscious that sure Secret Service witnesses have now retained new personal counsel. We anticipate additional testimony underneath oath and different new data within the coming weeks. After the Secret Service refused to take President Trump to the Capitol, he returned to the White Home. What you see on the display screen is a photograph of him contained in the Oval Workplace instantly after he returned from the rally nonetheless carrying his overcoat.

A White Home worker knowledgeable the President as quickly as he returned to the Oval in regards to the riot on the Capitol. Let me repeat that. Inside quarter-hour of leaving the stage, President Trump knew that the Capitol was besieged and underneath assault. At 1:25, President Trump went to the personal eating room off the Oval Workplace.

From 1:25 till 4:00, the President stayed in his eating room. Simply to present you a way of the place the eating room is located within the West Wing, let’s check out this flooring plan. The eating room is linked to the Oval Workplace by a brief hallway. Witnesses instructed us that on January sixth President Trump sat in his traditional spot on the head of the desk dealing with a tv hanging on the wall.

We all know from the worker that the TV was tuned to Fox Information all afternoon. Right here you’ll be able to see Fox Information on the TV exhibiting protection of the joint session that was airing that day at 1:25. Different witnesses affirm that President Trump was within the eating room with the TV on for greater than two and a half hours. There was no official report of what President Trump did whereas within the eating room.

On the display screen is the Presidential name log from January sixth. As you’ll be able to see, there is no official report of President Trump receiving or inserting a name between 11:06 and 6:54 pm. As to what the President was doing that afternoon, the Presidential Each day Diary can be silent. It accommodates no data from the interval between 1:21 pm. and 4:03 pm.. There are additionally no pictures of President Trump throughout this essential interval between 1:21 within the Oval Workplace and when he went outdoors to the Rose Backyard after 4:00. The chief White Home photographer wished to take footage as a result of it was in her phrases, crucial for his archives and for historical past, however she was instructed quote, “no images”. Regardless of the dearth of pictures or an official report, we have discovered what President Trump was doing whereas he was watching TV within the eating room.

However earlier than we get into that, it is vital to know what he by no means did that day. Let’s watch.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: So are you conscious of any telephone name by the President of the US to the Secretary of Protection that day?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Not that I am conscious of, no.

UNKNOWN: Are you conscious of any telephone name by the President of United States to the legal professional normal of the US that day?

PAT CIPOLLONE: No.

UNKNOWN: Are you conscious of any telephone name by the President of the US to the Secretary of Homeland Safety that day?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I am not conscious of that, no.

UNKNOWN: Did you ever hear the Vice President — or excuse me, the President ask for the Nationwide Guard?

KEITH KELLOGG: No.

UNKNOWN: Did you ever hear the President ask for a regulation enforcement response?

KEITH KELLOGG: No.

UNKNOWN: In order any person who works within the nationwide safety house and with the Nationwide Safety Council right here, if there have been going to be troops current or referred to as up for a rally in Washington DC, for instance, is that one thing that you’d have been conscious of?

KEITH KELLOGG: Yeah, I’d have.

UNKNOWN: Have you learnt for those who requested anyone to achieve out to any of those who we simply listed off? Nationwide Guard, DOD, FBI, Homeland Safety, Secret Service, Mayor Boswer, or the Capitol Police in regards to the scenario within the Capitol.

NICHOLAS LUNA: I’m not conscious of any of these requests. No, sir. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: We have now confirmed in quite a few interviews with senior regulation enforcement and navy leaders, Vice President Pence’s workers and DC authorities officers, none of them, not one, heard from President Trump that day. He didn’t name to problem orders. He didn’t name to supply help. This week we obtained a — further testimony from yet one more witness about why the President did not make any efforts to quell the assault.

The previous White Home worker with nationwide safety duties instructed us a few dialog with senior advisor, Eric Herschmann, and Pat Cipollone, the highest White Home lawyer. This dialog was a few pending name from the Pentagon searching for to coordinate on the response to the assault. Mr. Herschmann turned to Mr. Cipollone and mentioned, the President did not need to do something.

And so Mr. Cipollone needed to take the decision himself. So if President Trump wasn’t calling regulation enforcement or navy leaders, what did President Trump spend his time doing that afternoon whereas he first settled into the eating room? He was calling Senators to encourage them to delay or object to the certification.

Here is Kayleigh McEnany, his press secretary, to clarify. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: All proper. That claims again there and he desires listing of Senators. After which he is calling them one after the other. Have you learnt which of them he referred to as?

KAYLEIGH MCENANY: To one of the best of my recollection, no. As I say in my notes, he wished an inventory of the Senators. And, you realize, I left him at that time.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: As a result of the Presidential name log is empty, we don’t but know exactly which Senators President Trump was calling. However we do know from Rudy Giuliani’s telephone data that President Trump additionally referred to as him at 1:39 after he had been instructed that the riot was underway on the Capitol. Mr. Giuliani was President Trump’s lead election legal professional.

In line with the telephone data, the President’s name with him lasted roughly 4 minutes. Recall that Fox Information was on within the eating room. Let’s check out what was airing as this name was ending.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: The President, as all of us noticed, fired this crowd up. They’ve all — tens of 1000’s, perhaps 100,000 or extra have gone right down to the Capitol or elsewhere within the metropolis they usually’re very upset. Now I jumped down as quickly as we heard the information that Bret gave you about, Mike Pence. I began speaking to those individuals.

I mentioned, what do you suppose? One girl, an Air Power veteran from Missouri mentioned she was quote, “disgusted to listen to that information and that it was his obligation to do one thing”. And I instructed her, I mentioned there’s nothing within the Structure unilaterally that Vice President Pence might do. She mentioned, that does not matter. He ought to have fought for Trump.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: At 1:49, this is what was taking place on the Capitol with President Trump’s fired up supporters.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: We’ll give — fireplace a warning. We’ll attempt to get compliance, however that is now successfully a riot. 1:49 hours declaring it a riot.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: What did President Trump do at 1:49 because the DC police on the similar time have been declaring a riot on the Capitol. As you’ll be able to see on the display screen, he tweeted out a hyperlink to the recording of his Ellipse speech. This was the identical speech wherein he knowingly despatched an armed mob to the Capitol, however President Trump made no remark in regards to the lawlessness and the violence.

I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

ADAM KINZINGER: The subsequent motion President Trump took was to tweet at 2:24 pm What occurred throughout the 35 minutes between his final tweet at 1:49 and a couple of:24? His workers repeatedly got here into the room to see him and plead that he make a robust public assertion condemning the violence and instructing the mob to depart the Capitol.

He didn’t relent till after 4:00 when he went out to go to the Rose Backyard to movie his now notorious go residence message. Pat Cipollone was a prime White Home lawyer. Here is what he instructed us about his response to seeing the violence and his recommendation all through the afternoon.

[Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: When did you first understand that there was really violence or rioting?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I first realized it might have been on tv or might have been Tony or might have been Philbin. However I came upon that folks have been, you realize, they weren’t within the Capitol but, however they have been, you realize, and I then I began watching it and, you realize, then I used to be conscious.

UNKNOWN: What particularly did you suppose wanted to be completed?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I feel I used to be fairly clear. There wanted to be an instantaneous and forceful response assertion — public assertion that folks want to depart the Capitol now.

UNKNOWN: My query is strictly that, that it sounds such as you from the very outset of violence on the Capitol, proper round 2:00, have been pushing for a robust assertion that folks ought to go away the Capitol. Is that proper?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I used to be, and others have been as properly.

UNKNOWN: Pat, you mentioned that you simply expressed your opinion forcefully. Might you inform us precisely how you probably did that?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Yeah, I am unable to — I haven’t got, you realize, I’ve to — on the privilege problem, I am unable to speak about conversations with the President, however I can generically say that I mentioned, you realize, individuals have to be instructed, there must be a public announcement quick that they should go away the Capitol.

UNKNOWN: And Pat, might you tell us roughly once you mentioned that?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Roughly when? Virtually instantly after I came upon individuals have been stepping into the Capitol or approaching the Capitol in a approach that was — was violent.

UNKNOWN: Do you bear in mind any dialogue with Mark Meadows with respect to his view that the President did not need to do something? Was someway of proof against eager to say one thing [inaudible] counsel.

PAT CIPOLLONE: Tony [inaudible] simply to be clear, many individuals steered it. Yeah, not simply me. Many individuals felt the identical approach. I am positive I had conversations with Mark about this throughout the course of the day and expressed my opinion very forcefully that this must be completed.

UNKNOWN: So your recommendation was to inform individuals to depart the Capitol and it took over two hours when there have been subsequent statements made, tweets put forth, that in your view have been inadequate. Did you proceed, Mr. Cipollone, all through the time frame up till 4:17 — proceed, you and others, to push for a stronger assertion?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Sure.

UNKNOWN: Have been you joined in that effort by Ivanka Trump?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Sure.

UNKNOWN: Eric Herschmann?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Sure.

UNKNOWN: And Mark Meadows?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Sure.

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON: White Home counsel’s workplace wished there to be a robust assertion out to sentence the rioters. I am assured in that. I am assured that Ivanka Trump wished there to be a robust assertion to sentence the rioters. I do not know the personal dialog she had with Mr. Trump. However I bear in mind when she got here to the workplace one time with White Home counsel’s workplace — when she got here to the chief of workers’s workplace with White Home counsel’s workplace, she was speaking in regards to the speech later that day and making an attempt to get her dad on board with saying one thing that was extra direct than he had wished to on the time and all through the afternoon.

PAT CIPOLLONE: I feel Mark additionally wished — acquired — I bear in mind him getting Ivanka concerned, as a result of — mentioned get Ivanka down right here as a result of he thought that will be vital. I do not suppose Jared was there within the morning, however I feel he got here later. I bear in mind considering it was vital to get him in there too. And — and naturally, Pat Philbin, you realize, was expressing the identical issues.

I imply, Pat Philbin, you realize, was very — as I mentioned, I do not suppose there was certainly one of these conferences the place — there may need been, however for essentially the most half, I bear in mind the each of us happening collectively, going again, getting on telephone calls. He was additionally very clearly expressing this view.

[End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Pat Cipollone and Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Chief of Workers Mark Meadows, additionally instructed us in regards to the hold Mike Pence chants. As you will notice, Mr. Cipollone recalled conversations about these chants within the West Wing, however he relied on govt privilege to take care of confidentiality over his and others’ direct communications with the President.

Though Mr. Cipollone was unwilling to offer extra element, Ms. Hutchinson offered extra specific data, filling in these blanks. See that for your self.

[Begin videotape]

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON: It wasn’t till Mark hung up the telephone, handed it again to me. I went again to my desk. A few minutes later, him and Pat got here again, presumably Eric Herschmann too. I am fairly positive Eric Herschmann was there, however I am — I am assured it was Pat that was there. I bear in mind Pat saying one thing to the impact of, Mark, we have to do one thing extra.

They’re actually calling for the vice chairman to be effing hung. And Mark had responded one thing to the impact of, you heard him, Pat. He thinks Mike deserves it. He would not suppose they’re doing something unsuitable. To which Pat mentioned one thing, that is effing loopy, we have to be doing one thing extra, briefly stepped into Mark’s workplace.

UNKNOWN: Do you bear in mind any dialogue at any level throughout the day about rioters on the Capitol chanting hold Mike Pence?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Sure, I bear in mind — I bear in mind listening to that about that, sure. I do not know if I noticed that myself on TV.

UNKNOWN: I am simply curious. I perceive the — the privilege line you have drawn, however do you bear in mind what you’ll be able to share with us in regards to the dialogue about these chants, the hold Mike Pence chants?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I can let you know my view of that.

UNKNOWN: Yeah, please.

PAT CIPOLLONE: My view of that’s that’s outrageous. And for anybody to counsel such a factor of the vice chairman of the US, for individuals in that crowd to be chanting that I assumed was horrible. I assumed it was outrageous and unsuitable, and I expressed that very clearly.

ADAM SCHIFF: With respect to your conversations with Mr. Meadows, although, did you particularly increase your concern over the vice chairman with him, and — and the way did he reply?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I consider I raised the priority in regards to the vice chairman, and I — and I — once more, the character of his response, with out recalling precisely was he — you realize, individuals have been doing all that they may.

ADAM SCHIFF: And — and what in regards to the president? Did he point out whether or not he thought the president was doing what wanted to be completed to guard the vice chairman?

UNKNOWN: Privilege. You must assert it. That query would —

PAT CIPOLLONE: That will name for — I am being instructed on privilege.

UNKNOWN: I see.

[End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: As well as, Mr. Cipollone testified that it will have been possible, as commentators on tv have been suggesting, for President Trump to right away seem on the podium within the press room to handle the nation. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: Wouldn’t it have been doable at any second for the president to stroll right down to the rostrum within the briefing room and inform — speak to the nation at anytime between once you first gave him that recommendation at 2:00 and 4:17 when the video assertion went? Would which were doable?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Wouldn’t it have been doable?

UNKNOWN: Sure.

PAT CIPOLLONE: Effectively, sure, it will have been doable. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: We simply heard Mr. Cipollone say that President Trump might have gone to the press briefing room to problem an announcement at any second. To present you a way of simply how simple that will have been, let’s check out a map of the West Wing. As we noticed earlier, the president’s personal eating room is on the backside of the map.

The press briefing room is on the prime highlighted in blue, and the Rose Backyard, the place the President in the end filmed his go residence video, is on the precise subsequent to the Oval Workplace, and that is highlighted in inexperienced. Ms. Matthews, how shortly might the president have gotten on digital camera within the press briefing room to ship an announcement to the nation?

SARAH MATTHEWS: So, as you outlined, it will take most likely lower than 60 seconds from the Oval Workplace eating room over to the press briefing room. And for folk which may not know, the briefing room is the room that you simply see the White Home press secretary do briefings from with the rostrum and the blue backdrop. And there is a digital camera that’s on in there always.

And so, if the president had wished to make an announcement and tackle the American individuals, he might have been on digital camera nearly immediately. And conversely, the White Home press corps has places of work which are situated immediately behind the briefing room. And so, if he had wished to make an tackle from the Oval Workplace, we might have assembled the White Home press corps most likely in a matter of minutes to get them into the Oval for him to do an on digital camera tackle.

ADAM KINZINGER: Thanks. Different witnesses have given us their views on that query. For instance, Common Keith Kellogg instructed us that some workers have been involved {that a} dwell look by the president on the microphones at that second might really make issues worse. He instructed us he beneficial in opposition to doing a press convention as a result of, throughout his 4 years within the Trump administration, “There wasn’t a single clear press convention we had had.” President Trump’s advisers knew his way of thinking at that second, they usually have been apprehensive about what he would say in unscripted feedback.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks. As you have heard, by 2:00 a number of workers members within the White Home acknowledged {that a} critical scenario was underway on the Capitol. Personally, I recall being evacuated from the Home workplace constructing the place we’re sitting by — earlier than this time. It was as a result of discovery of two pipe bombs in close by buildings.

Ms. Mathews, across the similar time, you have been watching the violence unfold on tv and social media with colleagues, together with with Ben Williamson, a senior aide to Mark Meadows and the performing director of communications. You instructed us that earlier than President Trump’s despatched his subsequent tweet at 2:24, Mr. Williamson acquired as much as go see Mr. Meadows and you bought as much as go see Kayleigh McEnany.

Why did you each try this?

SARAH MATTHEWS: So, Ben and I have been watching the protection unfold from one of many places of work within the West Wing. And we each acknowledged that the scenario was escalating and it was escalating shortly, and that the president wanted to be on the market instantly to inform these individuals to go residence and condemn the violence that we have been seeing.

So, I instructed him that I used to be going to make that advice to Kayleigh, and he mentioned he was going to make the identical advice to the chief of workers, Mark Meadows.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks. And certainly one of your colleagues within the press workplace, Judd Deere, instructed us he additionally went to see Ms. McEnany at the moment. Let’s hear what he mentioned about this essential time frame proper because the rioters have been stepping into the Capitol.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: And why did you suppose it was essential to say one thing?

JUDD DEERE: Effectively, I imply, it seems that people are storming the US Capitol constructing. Additionally they look like supporters of Donald Trump, who might have been in attendance on the rally. We’ll must say one thing.

UNKNOWN: And did you might have a view as to what must be mentioned in regards to the White Home?

JUDD DEERE: If I recall, I instructed Kayleigh that I assumed that we wanted to encourage people to cease, to respect regulation enforcement, and to go residence. [End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Though President Trump was conscious of the continued riot, he didn’t take any rapid motion to handle the lawlessness. As an alternative, at 2:03, he referred to as Rudy Giuliani once more, and that decision lasted for over eight minutes. Moments later at 2:13, rioters broke into the Capitol itself. One of many Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy, Dominic Pezzola, used an officer’s protect to smash a window, and rioters flooded into the constructing. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: [Crowd noise] Go, go, go, go. Go within the Capitol. Go, go, go. [End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: As rioters have been coming into the constructing, the Secret Service held Vice President Pence in his workplace proper off the Senate chamber for 13 minutes as they labored to clear a protected path to a safe location. Now hearken to a few of that radio visitors and see what they have been seeing because the protesters acquired simply toes away from the place the Vice President was holding.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: They’re taking the constructing. Maintain. Harden that door up. If you’re transferring, we have to transfer now. Copy. If we lose any extra time, we might have — we might lose the power to — to depart. So, if we will go away, we have to do it now. They’ve gained entry to the second flooring and I’ve acquired public about 5 toes from me down right here beneath.

Okay, copy. They’re on the second flooring transferring in now. We might need to take into account getting out and leaving now, copy? Will we encounter the individuals as soon as we make our approach? Repeat? Encounter any people if we made our option to the — to the — There’s six officers between us and the individuals which are 5 to 10 toes away from me. Stand by. I will down to judge.

Go forward. We have now a transparent shot if we transfer shortly. We have got smoke downstairs. Stand by, unknown smoke from downstairs. By the protesters? Is that route compromised? We have now the — is safe. Nonetheless, we are going to bypass some protesters which are being contained. There may be smoke, unknown what sort of smoke it’s, copy?

Clear. We’re popping out now, all proper? Make a approach.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: The president’s Nationwide Safety Council workers was listening to those developments and monitoring them in actual time. On the display screen, you’ll be able to see excerpts from the chat logs among the many nationwide — among the many president’s Nationwide Council — Nationwide Safety Council workers. At 2:13, the workers discovered that the rioters have been kicking within the home windows on the Capitol.

Three minutes later, the workers mentioned the vice chairman was being pulled, which meant brokers evacuated him from the Senate flooring. At 2:24, the workers famous that the Secret Service brokers on the Capitol didn’t “sound good proper now.” Earlier you heard from a safety skilled who had been working within the White Home advanced on January sixth with entry to related data and a accountability to report back to nationwide safety officers.

We requested this particular person what was meant by the remark that the Secret Service brokers didn’t “sound good proper now.” Within the following clip of that testimony, which has been modified to guard the person’s identification, the skilled discusses what they heard from listening to the incoming radio visitors that day.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: Okay. That final entry within the web page is service on the capital doesn’t sound good proper now. Appropriate. What does that imply? Effectively, members of the VP element at the moment have been beginning to worry for their very own lives. There have been quite a lot of — there was quite a lot of yelling, quite a lot of — quite a lot of very private calls over the radio, so it was disturbing.

I do not like speaking about it. However there — there have been calls to say goodbye to relations, so on and so forth. It was getting — for — for regardless of the cause was on the bottom, the VP element thought that this was about to get very ugly. And do — did you hear that over the radio? Appropriate. Okay. What was the response by the brokers who have been — Secret Service brokers who have been there?

UNKNOWN: All people saved saying — you realize, at that time it was simply reassurances or — I feel there have been discussions of reinforcements coming. However — however once more, it was simply chaos, they usually have been simply clearly, you have conveyed that is disturbing. However what — what prompted you to place it into an entry because it states there, Service on the Capitol? They have been operating out of choices they usually have been getting nervous. It — it seems like we’re — that we got here very near both service having to make use of deadly choices or — or worse.

Like, at — at that time I do not know. Is the VP compromised? Is the element comp — like, I — I do not know. Like, we did not have visibility, nevertheless it would not — in the event that they’re screaming and — and saying issues like say goodbye to the household, like, the ground must know that is going to on an entire nother[Ph] degree quickly.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: As this subsequent video exhibits, the rioters’ anger was foc — targeted totally on Vice President Mike Pence. [Begin videotape]

JANET BUHLER: This girl cames as much as the facet of us and he or she says Pence folded. So it was form of, like, Okay, properly — in my thoughts I used to be considering, properly that is it. You understand. Effectively, my son-in-law appears at me and he says I need to go in.

UNKNOWN: What share of the group goes to the Capitol?

JESSICA WATKINS: 100%. It’s — it has unfold like wildfire that Pence has betrayed us. And everyone is marching on the Capitol, all million of us. It is insane.

UNKNOWN: Mike Pence is not going to stick up for Donald Trump. Mike Pence, traitor. Mike Pence has screwed us, in case you have not heard but. What occurred? What occurred? I preserve listening to that Mike Pence has screwed us. That is the phrase. I preserve listening to studies that Mike Pence has screwed us. Did individuals seem indignant as you have been strolling to the Capitol?

Yeah, lots of people — lots of people appeared like they have been very upset. Inform us a few of the issues they have been saying, for those who recall.

STEPHEN AYRES: Oh, there was — they have been saying all kind — you realize, individuals have been screaming all sorts of stuff. They have been mad that Vice President Pence was going to simply accept the electoral legal guidelines. I imply, it was — I imply it was a load of — you’ll be able to — for those who can suppose it up that is — you might be listening to it.

UNKNOWN: I consider that Vice President Pence was going to certify the electoral votes and — or not certify them. However I assume that is simply modified. Appropriate? And it is a very massive disappointment. I feel there’s a number of hundred thousand individuals right here which are very disenchanted.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: President Trump didn’t attempt to calm his 1000’s of disenchanted supporters. As an alternative at nearly the identical second violence was getting fully out of hand, Donald Trump despatched his 2:24 tweet. The President mentioned Mike Pence did not have the braveness to do what ought to have been completed to guard our nation and our Structure.

Regardless of realizing the Capitol had been breached and the mob was within the constructing, President Trump referred to as Mike Pence a coward and positioned all of the blame on him for not stopping the certification. He put a goal on his personal Vice President’s again. Mr. Pottinger and Miss Mathews, once we requested you about your response to seeing the two:24 tweet in actual time, you each use the identical imagery to explain it. President Trump was including gasoline to the hearth.

Mr. Pottinger, you made the choice to resign after seeing this tweet. Are you able to please inform us why?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Sure. In order that was the — fairly quickly after I would — or shortly earlier than I would gotten again to the White Home. I would come from off web site. I started to see for the primary time these photos on TV of the chaos that was unfolding on the Capitol. One in all my aides handed me a sheet of paper that contained the tweet that you simply simply learn.

I — I learn it and was fairly disturbed by it. I — I used to be disturbed and apprehensive to see that the President was attacking Vice President Pence for doing his constitutional obligation. So the tweet regarded to me like the alternative of what — what we actually wanted at that second, which was a de-escalation. And that is why I had mentioned earlier that it regarded like gasoline being poured on the hearth.

In order that was the second that I made a decision that I used to be going to resign, that that will be my final day on the White Home. I — I merely did not need to be related to — with the occasions that have been unfolding on the Capitol.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks. And Ms. Matthews, what was your response to the President’s tweet about Vice President Pence?

SARAH MATTHEWS: So, it was apparent that the scenario on the Capitol was violent and escalating shortly. And so I assumed that the tweet in regards to the Vice President was the very last thing that was wanted in that second. And I — I bear in mind considering that this was going to be unhealthy for him to tweet this as a result of it was primarily him giving the inexperienced gentle to those individuals, telling them that what they have been doing on the steps of the Capitol and coming into the Capitol was Okay, that they have been justified of their anger.

And he should not have been doing that. He ought to have been telling these individuals to go residence and to depart and to sentence the violence that we have been seeing. And I am somebody who has labored with him. You understand, I labored on the marketing campaign, traveled throughout the nation going to numerous rallies with him. And I’ve seen the impression that his phrases have on his supporters.

He — they honestly latch on to each phrase and each tweet that he says. And so I feel that in that second for him to tweet out the message about Mike Pence, it was him pouring gasoline on the hearth and making it a lot worse.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks each. And let’s watch what others additionally instructed us about their reactions to this tweet. [Begin videotape]

PAT CIPOLLONE: I do not bear in mind when precisely I heard about that tweet, however my response to it’s that is a — a horrible tweet. And I disagreed with the sentiment and I assumed it was unsuitable.

UNKNOWN: What was your response once you noticed that tweet?

JUDD DEERE: Extraordinarily unhelpful.

UNKNOWN: Why?

JUDD DEERE: It — it — it wasn’t the message that we wanted at — at the moment. It wasn’t going to — the — the scenes on the US Capitol have been solely getting worse at that time. This was not going to assist that.

UNKNOWN: Have been you involved it might make it worse?

JUDD DEERE: Actually.

LIZ CHENEY: Ms. Hutchinson, what was your response once you noticed this tweet?

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON: As a staffer that works to at all times signify the Administration to one of the best of my means and to showcase the nice issues that he had completed for the nation, I bear in mind feeling pissed off, disenchanted, and actually it — it felt private. I — I used to be actually unhappy. As an American, I used to be disgusted. It was unpatriotic.

It was un-American. We have been watching the Capitol constructing get defaced over a lie. [End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: As you will notice, at 2:26, the Vice President needed to be evacuated to security a second time and got here inside 40 toes of the rioters. The assault escalated shortly proper after the tweet.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: [Inaudible]

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Throughout this chaos, what did President Trump do at that time? He went again to calling Senators to attempt to additional delay the electoral depend. Whereas the Vice President was being evacuated from the Senate, President Trump referred to as Senator Tommy Tuberville, certainly one of his strongest supporters within the Senate. As Senator Tuberville later recalled, he needed to finish the decision in order that he might evacuate the Senate chamber himself.

Let’s hear.

[Begin videotape]

TOMMY TUBERVILLE: He referred to as — did not name my telephone. Known as any person else they usually handed it to me. And I — I principally instructed him, I mentioned Mr. President, we’re — we’re not doing a lot work right here proper now as a result of they simply took our Vice President out. And matter of truth I am gonna have to hold up on you. I’ve acquired to depart.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Senator Josh Hawley additionally needed to flee. Earlier that afternoon earlier than the joint session began, he walked throughout the east entrance of the Capitol. As you’ll be able to see on this photograph, he raised his fist in solidarity with the protesters already amassing on the safety gates. We spoke with a Capitol police officer who was on the market on the time.

She instructed us that Senator gest — Senator Hawley’s gesture riled up the group, and it bothered her vastly as a result of he was doing it in a protected house, protected by the officers and the boundaries. Later that day Senator Hawley fled after these protesters he helped to rile up stormed the Capitol. See for your self.

[Begin videotape][End videotape]

Take into consideration what we have seen, plain violence on the Capitol. The Vice President being evacuated to security by the Secret Service. Senators operating by means of the hallways of the Senate to get away from the mob. Because the Commander in Chief, President Trump was oath and obligation sure to guard the Capitol.

His senior workers understood that.

[Begin videotape]

LIZ CHENEY: Do — do you consider, Jared, that the President has an obligation to make sure a peaceable switch of energy?

JARED KUSHNER: Sure.

LIZ CHENEY: And do you suppose the President has an obligation to defend all three branches of our authorities?

JARED KUSHNER: I consider so.

LIZ CHENEY: And I assume you additionally would agree the President has a specific obligation to take care that the legal guidelines be faithfully executed.

PAT CIPOLLONE: That is among the President’s obligations, right.

LIZ CHENEY: No, I imply, I requested what his obligation is.

KEITH KELLOGG: Effectively, I imply, there is a — there is a constitutional obligation — I — what he has — he is the Commander in Chief. And that was the — the — that was my greatest problem with him as Nationwide Safety Advisor.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Relatively than uphold his obligation to the Structure, President Trump allowed the mob to attain the delay that he hoped would preserve him in energy. I reserve.

LIZ CHENEY: The gentlewoman reserves. I request that these within the listening to room stay seated till the Capitol Police have escorted members and witnesses from the room. I now declare the committee in recess for a interval of roughly 10 minutes. The committee might be so as. I now acknowledge the gentleman from Illinois.

The committee might be so as. I now acknowledge the gentleman from Illinois.

ADAM KINZINGER: We left on the recess simply after President Trump’s 2:24 tweet attacking the Vice President. By this time the President had been in his eating room for an hour. I would like you to simply consider what you’ll have completed for those who have been in his footwear and had the ability to finish the violence. You’d have instantly and forcefully instructed the rioters to cease and go away.

Like, cease and go away. Finished. As you heard, that is precisely what his senior workers had been urging him to do, however he resisted and he saved resisting for one more nearly two hours. Within the meantime, all of the President did was put up two tweets, one at 2:38 and the opposite at 3:13. One mentioned quote, “keep peaceable”. The opposite mentioned quote, “stay peaceable”. However the President already knew that the mob was attacking the police and had invaded the Capitol.

Neither tweet condemned the violence or instructed the mob to depart the Capitol and disperse. To understand how apparent it was that President Trump was not assembly this second, it is useful to take a look at the actual time reactions of his personal son, Don Jr to the primary tweet captured in a collection of textual content messages with Mark Meadows.

I warn the viewers that these messages include some robust language. As you’ll be able to see Don Jr’s first — Don Jr first texted Mr. Meadows at 2:53. He wrote, he is acquired to sentence this shit ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet just isn’t sufficient. Mr. Meadows replied, I’m pushing it arduous, I agree. Don Jr responded, that is one you go to the mattresses on. They’ll attempt to fuck his whole legacy if this — on this if it will get worse.

Here is what Don Jr instructed us he meant by go to the mattresses. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: At 2:58 once you say that he want — that Mr. Meadows must go to the mattresses on this problem, once you say go to the mattresses, what does that imply?

DONALD TRUMP JR.: It is only a reference for going all in. I feel it is a Godfather reference. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Sean Hannity agreed, and he additionally turned to Mark Meadows for assist after the President’s second tweet. As you’ll be able to see, Mr. Hannity texted at 3:31 to say, Trump wanted to ship an announcement to the nation telling the rioters to depart the Capitol. Mr. Meadows responded, that he was quote, “on it”. Don Jr and Sean Hannity weren’t the one ones who implored Mr. Meadows to get the President to talk to the nation and inform the mob to depart, to go residence, go residence.

All through the assault, Mr. Meadows obtained texts from Republican members of Congress, from present and former Trump administration officers, from media personalities, and from buddies. Like President Trump’s workers, they knew President Trump needed to communicate publicly to get the mob to cease. Let’s take a look at only a few of those textual content messages.

Fox Information persona, Laura Ingraham, mentioned the President wants to inform the individuals within the Capitol to go residence. Former chief of workers, Mick Mulvaney, urged Mark, he must cease this now. Fox Information persona, Brian Kilmeade, mentioned, please get him on TV. Destroying every little thing that you simply guys have completed.

Once we interviewed White Home counsel, Pat Cipollone, he instructed us that he knew the President’s two tweets weren’t sufficient. Let’s hearken to what he mentioned. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: I feel the query is did you consider the tweets weren’t something about your recommendation to the President?

PAT CIPOLLONE: No, I consider extra wanted to be completed. I believed {that a} public assertion wanted to be made.

LIZ CHENEY: If you speak about others on the workers considering extra must be completed or considering that the President wanted to inform individuals to go residence, who — who would you place in that class?

PAT CIPOLLONE: Effectively, I — I’d put it Pat Philbin, Eric Herschmann, general Mark Meadows, Ivanka, as soon as Jared acquired there Jared, Common Kellogg. I am most likely lacking some, however these are — Kayleigh I feel was — was there, however I do not — Dan Scavino.

LIZ CHENEY: And who on the workers didn’t need individuals to depart the Capitol?

PAT CIPOLLONE: On the workers?

LIZ CHENEY: Within the White Home, how about?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I do not — I — I am unable to consider anyone, you realize, on that day who did not need individuals to get out of the — the Capitol as soon as the — you realize, notably as soon as the violence began, no. I imply —

ADAM SCHIFF: What in regards to the president?

LIZ CHENEY: Yeah.

PAT CIPOLLONE: She mentioned the workers, so I answered.

LIZ CHENEY: No, I mentioned within the White Home.

PAT CIPOLLONE: Oh, I am sorry. I — I apologize. I assumed you mentioned who — who else on the workers. I — I — I am unable to reveal communications, however clearly I feel, you realize, — yeah. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Let’s pause on that final assertion. Though Pat Cipollone is being cautious about govt privilege, there actually isn’t any ambiguity about what he mentioned. Virtually everyone wished President Trump to instruct the mob to disperse. President Trump refused. To know how insufficient the president’s tweets have been, let’s study his 2:38 tweet in additional element.

For context, this is what was taking place at the moment. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: They broke the glass proper there. All people keep down. Get down. Decrease barricade, there’s individuals flooding the hallways outdoors. We have now no approach out. We have been simply instructed that there was teargas within the Rotunda, and we’re being instructed to every of us get a gasmask. We went from a peaceable protest, and it is a very harmful scenario proper now.

The — there are — I am being instructed these protesters on the within are round each chambers, and there may be now tear fuel contained in the Capitol Rotunda. In reality, members locked within the Home are being instructed to placed on masks. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Ms. Matthews, after President Trump’s tweet about Vice President Pence, you instructed us you spoke to — instantly you spoke to Kayleigh McEnany. What did you inform her and the place did she go afterwards?

SARAH MATTHEWS: After the tweet in regards to the vice chairman, I discovered Kayleigh and instructed her that I assumed the president wanted to right away ship out a tweet that condemned the violence that we have been seeing, and that there wanted to be a name to motion to inform these individuals to depart the Capitol. And he or she agreed and walked over to the Oval Eating Room to search out the president.

ADAM KINZINGER: We interviewed Ms. McEnany and others who — who have been within the eating room with the president, urging him to place out an announcement. Ms. Matthews, Ms. McEnany instructed us she got here proper again to the press workplace after assembly with the president about this specific tweet. What did she let you know about what occurred in that eating room?

SARAH MATTHEWS: When she acquired again, she instructed me {that a} tweet had been despatched out. And I instructed her that I assumed the tweet didn’t go far sufficient, that I assumed there wanted to be a name to motion and he wanted to sentence the violence. And we have been in a room full of individuals, however individuals weren’t paying consideration. And so, she regarded immediately at me and, in a hushed tone, shared with me that the president didn’t need to embrace any kind of point out of peace in that tweet, and that it took some convincing on their half, those that have been within the room.

And he or she mentioned that there was a forwards and backwards, going over totally different phrases to search out one thing that he was comfy with. And it wasn’t till Ivanka Trump steered the phrase keep peaceable that he lastly agreed to incorporate it.

ADAM KINZINGER: The president resisted writing keep peaceable in a tweet. He instructed Mark Meadows that the rioters have been doing what they need to be doing and the rioters understood they have been doing what President Trump wished them to do. President Trump’s message was heard clearly by Cease The Steal organizer Ali Alexander. At 2:38, he instructed one other organizer, “POTUS just isn’t blind to what his phrases would do.” Rioters storming the Capitol additionally heard President Trump’s message.

On this video, you may see surveillance footage from the Rotunda that exhibits a bunch of Oath Keepers, together with Jessica Watkins, who’s been charged with seditious conspiracy. You may hear her walkie-talkie communications with others as they share intelligence and talk about President Trump’s 2:38 tweet in actual time.

Once more, we warn the viewers that this clip additionally accommodates robust language.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: CNN simply mentioned that they evacuated all members of Congress into a security room. There is no such thing as a protected place in the US for any of those motherfuckers proper now, let me let you know. I hope they perceive that we aren’t joking round. Army precept 105, Army Precept 105, cave means grave. Trump simply tweeted please assist our Capitol Police.

They’re on our facet. Don’t hurt them. That is saying loads by what he did not say. He did not say to not do something to the Congressmen. Effectively, he didn’t ask them to face down. He simply mentioned stand by the Capitol Police. They’re on our facet and they’re good individuals. So, it is getting actual down there. I acquired it on TV, and it is — it is trying fairly friggin radical to me. CNN mentioned that Trump has egged this on, that he’s egging it on, and that he’s watching the nation burn two weeks earlier than he leaves workplace.

He’s not leaving workplace. I do not give a shit what they are saying. And we’re within the mezzanine. We’re in the primary dome proper now. We’re rocking it. They’re throwing grenades. They’re frickin taking pictures individuals with paintballs, however we’re in right here. Be protected, be protected. God bless and Godspeed, and preserve going. Get it, Jess.

Do your shit. That is what we fucking lived up for, every little thing we fucking skilled for. Took over the Capitol, overran the Capitol. We’re within the fucking Capitol advanced. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: We have now seen how President Trump’s supporters reacted to his tweets. Mr. Pottinger, you instructed us that you simply take into account the tweets despatched thus far to be “wholly insufficient given the urgency of the disaster.” What in your view would have been wanted?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Yeah, I — it was inadequate. And I feel what — you may depend me amongst those that hoped to see an unequivocal robust assertion clearing out the Capitol, telling individuals to face down, go away, go residence. I — I feel that is what we have been hoping for.

ADAM KINZINGER: So, one thing much more form of definitive and never ambiguous —

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Sure.

JOHN KIRBY: As a result of he has that energy over his of us. Ms. Matthews, you instructed us a few colleague who mentioned throughout the assault that the president mustn’t condemn the violence. Are you able to please inform us about how that — about that second and your response?

SARAH MATTHEWS: Sure. So, a dialog began within the press workplace after the president despatched out these two tweets that I deemed have been inadequate. And a colleague steered that the president should not condemn the violence as a result of they thought it will “handing a win” to the media if he have been to sentence his supporters. And I disagreed.

I assumed that we must always condemn the violence and condemn it unequivocally. And I assumed that he wanted to incorporate a name to motion and to inform these individuals to go residence, and a debate ensued over it. And I turned visibly pissed off, and my colleagues have been properly conscious of that. And I could not consider that we have been arguing over this in the midst of the West Wing, speaking in regards to the politics of a tweet, caring with handing the media a win once we had simply watched all of that violence unfold on the Capitol.

And so, I motioned up on the TV and I mentioned do you suppose it appears like we’re effing profitable? As a result of I do not suppose it does. And I once more reiterated that I assumed that the president wanted to sentence the violence as a result of it did not matter if it was coming from the left or the precise, that it’s best to condemn violence 100% of the time.

ADAM KINZINGER: We have — we have heard this night how everybody within the president’s orbit was pushing him to do extra, to inform the mob to depart the Capitol. One in all these individuals — a kind of individuals was Republican chief Kevin McCarthy. He managed to get the president on the telephone and instructed him to name off his supporters. As you’ll hear, the president refused, and so Chief McCarthy reached out for assist to Ivanka Trump, who was on the White Home, and Jared Kushner, who that afternoon had simply arrived again on a flight from the Center East.

[Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: So, sooner or later within the afternoon, Mr. McCarthy positioned a telephone name to Mr. Scavino’s desk line, and it was transferred to the president. Is that right?

MOLLY MICHAEL: That is typically what I recall.

UNKNOWN: Okay. Have been you concerned in making that — transferring that decision?

MOLLY MICHAEL: I–I–Sure.

UNKNOWN: Okay. The place was the president on the time that he took that decision?

MOLLY MICHAEL: He was within the eating room.

UNKNOWN: Would you personally attain out to the president for extra assist?

MARK MEADOWS: I’ve already talked to the president. I referred to as him. I feel we have to make an announcement, ensure that we are able to calm people down.

UNKNOWN: Did Mr. McCarthy point out that he had been in contact with President Trump?

MARC SHORT: He indicated that he had had some dialog, I do not recall whether or not it was with the — with the president or with any person on the White Home. However I feel he — he expressed frustration that — not taking the circumstance as severely as they need to in that second.

JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER: You understand, I requested Kevin McCarthy, who’s the Republican chief, about this and — and he mentioned she referred to as Donald — he lastly acquired by means of to Donald Trump. And he mentioned you’ve got to get on TV, you have to get on Twitter, you have to name these individuals off. You understand what the president mentioned to him? That is because it’s taking place.

He mentioned, properly, Kevin, these aren’t my individuals. You understand, these are — these are Antifa. And Kevin responded and mentioned no, they’re your individuals. They actually simply got here by means of my workplace home windows and my workers are operating for canopy. I imply, they’re operating for his or her lives. It’s good to name them off. And the president’s response to Kevin, to me, was chilling.

He mentioned, properly, Kevin, I assume they’re simply extra upset in regards to the election, you realize, theft than you might be. And that is — you realize, you have seen widespread studies of — of Kevin McCarthy and the president having a — principally a swearing dialog. That is when the swearing commenced, as a result of the president was principally saying, nah, I — I am okay with this.

UNKNOWN: Chief McCarthy, the president of the US has a briefing room steps from the Oval Workplace. It’s — the cameras are sizzling 24/7, as you realize. Why hasn’t he walked down and mentioned that now?

KEVIN MCCARTHY: I conveyed to the president what I feel is greatest to do, and I am hopeful the president will do it.

UNKNOWN: And have you ever spoken along with his chief of workers?

KEVIN MCCARTHY: I’ve spoken to the president. I’ve spoken to different individuals in there and to the White Home as properly.

UNKNOWN: Who else reached out to Mr. Trump that you realize of that afternoon in regards to the assault on the Capitol?

JULIE RADFORD: I consider at one level McCarthy did.

JARED KUSHNER: So, my — I heard my telephone ringing, flip the bathe off, noticed it was Chief McCarthy, who I had a superb relationship with. He instructed me it was getting actually ugly over on the Capitol and mentioned, please, you realize, something you may do to assist, I’d recognize it. I do not recall a selected ask, simply something you may do. Once more, I acquired the sense that, you realize, they have been — they have been — you realize, they have been scared.

UNKNOWN: They that means Mr. — Chief McCarthy and other people on the Hill due to the violence?

JARED KUSHNER: That he — he was scared, sure. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Take into consideration that. Chief McCarthy, who was one of many president’s strongest supporters, was scared and begging for assist. President Trump turned him down. So, he tried to name the president’s kids. Republican Home member Mike Gallagher additionally implored the president to name off the assault. [Begin videotape]

MIKE GALLAGHER: Mr. President, you’ve got to cease this. You’re the solely one who can name this off. Name it off. The election is over. Name it off. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: President elect Joe Biden additionally went dwell on TV to demand that President Trump inform the mob to depart. [Begin videotape]

JOE BIDEN: I name on President Trump to go on nationwide tv now, to satisfy his oath and defend the Structure, and demand an finish to this siege. [End videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: There was a determined scramble for everybody to get President Trump to do something. All of this occurred and the president nonetheless didn’t act. I yield to my pal from Virginia.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks, Mr. Kinzinger. President Trump lastly relented to the pleas from his workers, his household, and from Capitol Hill for him to do one thing extra at 4:17, 187 minutes Greater than three hours after he stopped talking on the Ellipse. After he stopped talking to a mob that he had despatched armed to the Capitol.

That is when he tweeted a video telling the rioters to go residence whereas additionally telling him — them that they have been particular and that he cherished them. By that point though the violence was removed from over regulation enforcement had began to show the tide, reinforcements have been on the best way, and elected officers have been in safe places.

The writing was already on the wall. The rioters wouldn’t succeed. Here is what was exhibiting on Fox Information, the channel the President was watching all afternoon. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: Dr. Brett Baer with extra data now. Brett, what do you might have?

BRETT BAER: You understand our Pentagon group, Jen Griffin Lucas Tomlinson, now confirming the Protection Division has now mobilized all the DC Nationwide Guard, 1,800 troops, take a number of hours as I used to be mentioning earlier than, to get them up and operating. The Military secretary, Ryan McCarthy, is organising a headquarters on the FBI. You simply heard from David Spunt that the FBI can be sending troops to the Capitol.

[End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: It is no coincidence then that President Trump lastly gave in and went out to the Rose Backyard at 4:03. His workers ready a script for him to learn, however he refused to make use of it. As you’ll be able to see on the display screen, you’ll be able to see the script is stamped, President has seen. The script mentioned, quote, “I am asking you to depart the Capitol area now and go residence in a peaceable approach”. The President was urged to stay to the script, however he spoke off the cuff.

Eric Herscmann and Nick Luna went with the President to movie the message within the Rose Backyard. Let’s hear what they needed to say and see the by no means earlier than seen uncooked footage of the President recording this video message. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: In the end, these remarks that we’re taking a look at right here and Exhibit 25 weren’t the remarks that the President delivered within the Rose Backyard. Have you learnt why the President determined to not use these?

NICHOLAS LUNA: I do not know, sir. No, I have no idea why.

UNKNOWN: Did the President use any written remarks to your information or did he simply go off the cuff?

NICHOLAS LUNA: To my information, it was off the cuff, sir.

UNKNOWN: [off-mic] If you’re prepared, sir.

DONALD TRUMP: You inform me when.

UNKNOWN: If you’re prepared, sir.

DONALD TRUMP: Who’s behind me?

UNKNOWN: He is gone. He is gone. We’re all clear now.

DONALD TRUMP: I do know your ache, I do know you are damage. We had a election — let me say. I do know your ache. I do know you are damage. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everybody is aware of it, particularly the opposite facet, however it’s a must to go residence now. We have now to have peace. We have now to have regulation and order.

We have now to respect our nice individuals in regulation and order. We do not need anyone damage. It is a very robust time frame. There’s by no means been a time like this the place such a factor occurred the place they may take it away from all of us, from me, from you, from our nation. This was a fraudulent election, however we will not play into the palms of those individuals.

We have now to have peace. So go residence. We love you. You are very particular. You have seen what occurs. You see the best way others are handled which are so unhealthy and so evil. I understand how you are feeling, however go residence and go residence in peace.

JARED KUSHNER: Once I acquired there, principally the President simply had completed filming the video and I feel he was principally retiring for the day.

UNKNOWN: Was there any dialogue in regards to the President releasing a second video that day?

ERIC HERSCMANN: Not that I recall. When — when he completed his video, I feel everybody was like day’s over. Persons are fairly drained.

UNKNOWN: Have been fairly what?

ERIC HERSCMANN: Drained.

UNKNOWN: Once we say day — day over are we — there have been nonetheless individuals within the Capitol at that time weren’t there?

ERIC HERSCMANN: There have been individuals within the Capitol. However I consider by this stage regulation enforcement — I would have to return and look, however I consider regulation enforcement was both there transferring in or going to take cost. And I simply suppose individuals have been emotionally drained by the point that videotape was completed. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Emotionally drained on the White Home? Here is what was taking place on the similar time on the Capitol. We warn the viewers that this clip additionally accommodates robust language and violence. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: Maintain pushing. Do not lose the momentum. [off-mic] We have got one other officer unconscious on the terrace. West Terrace. All people, we want [inaudible]. We’d like robust, indignant patriots to assist our boys. They do not need to go away. [off-mic] [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: Whereas President Trump refused to even carry one other finger to assist, different leaders honored their oath and acted to clear the Capitol and resume the joint session. As an illustration, listed here are by no means earlier than seen pictures and video of Congressional leaders in motion throughout the assault. The video is a portion of a name that they had at roughly 4:45 with Performing Secretary of Protection, Chris Miller.

[Begin Videotape]

MITCH MCCONNELL: We’re not going to let these individuals preserve us from ending our enterprise. So we want you to get the constructing cleared. Give us the okay, so we are able to return in session and end up the individuals’s enterprise as quickly as doable.

CHRISTOPHER MILLER: Amen, sir.

CHUCK SCHUMER: Mr. Secretary, it is Senator Schumer, some individuals right here within the Capitol police consider it will us take a number of days to safe the constructing. Do you agree with that evaluation?

CHRISTOPHER MILLER: I am not on the bottom, however I don’t agree with that evaluation.

CHUCK SCHUMER: So what’s the earliest that we might safely resume our proceedings within the Senate and Home chambers? The earliest we might safely resume?

CHRISTOPHER MILLER: I — this is my evaluation, however I want to be on the bottom, which I personally would like to be proper now, however I have to be right here. I’d say greatest case, we’re taking a look at 4 to 5 hours. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: The Vice President additionally labored the telephones from his personal safe evacuation location, together with conversations with Performing Secretary of Protection Miller and different navy leaders. Whereas previous President Trump’s 4:17 video, let’s take a look at some by no means earlier than seen images of the Vice President throughout this essential time and listen to in regards to the Vice President’s dialog with navy leaders to safe the Capitol and guarantee everybody was protected.

[Begin Videotape]

MARK MILLEY: Vice President Pence? There have been two or three calls with Vice President Pence. He was very animated and he issued very specific, very direct, unambiguous orders. There was no query about that. And he was — and I can provide the precise quotes I assume from a few of our report someplace, however he was very animated, very direct, very agency.

And to Secretary Miller, get the navy down right here, get the guard down right here, put down this example, and so forth. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: As you heard earlier within the listening to, the President didn’t name the Vice President or anybody within the navy, federal regulation enforcement, or DC authorities, not a single particular person. However Common Milley did hear from Mark Meadows. The distinction between that decision and his calls with Vice President Pence let you know every little thing you’ll want to find out about President Trump’s dereliction of obligation.

Let’s hear. [Begin Videotape]

MARK MILLEY: He mentioned this from reminiscence. He mentioned, we now have — we now have to kill the narrative that the Vice President is making all the selections. We have to set up the narrative that, you realize, that the President remains to be in cost and that issues are regular or secure. Or phrases to that impact. I instantly interpret that as politics, politics, politics.

Pink flag for me personally, no motion, however I bear in mind it distinctly and — and I do not do political narratives. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: So whereas President Trump and his advisors have been drained, different leaders upheld their oaths to do the precise factor. Perhaps it was exhausting to get the President to place out that video, however take into consideration the regulation enforcement officers who have been attacked by the mob that day. And President Trump had summoned them himself to Washington.

And what about President Trump? He watched TV, tweeted, referred to as Senators to attempt to delay the depend of electoral votes, referred to as Rudy Giuliani, and argued along with his workers who have been insinuating — who have been insisting that he ought to name off the assault. Ms. Mathews, what was your response to President Trump’s message to the mob at 4:17?

SARAH MATTHEWS: I used to be struck by the truth that he selected to start the video by pushing the lie that there was a stolen election. And because the video went on, I felt a small sense of aid as a result of he lastly instructed these individuals to go residence. However that was instantly adopted up by him saying, we love you, you are very particular. And that was disturbing to me as a result of he did not distinguish between those who peacefully attended his speech earlier that day and those who we watched trigger violence on the Capitol.

As an alternative, he instructed the individuals who we had simply watched storm our nation’s Capitol with the intent on overthrowing our democracy, violently assault cops, and chant heinous, issues like, hold Mike Pence, we love you, you are very particular. And as a spokesperson for him, I knew that I’d be requested to defend that.

And to me, his refusal to behave and name off the mob that day and his refusal to sentence the violence was indefensible. And so I knew that I’d be resigning that night. And so I completed out the work day, went residence, and referred to as my family members to inform them of my determination and resigned that night.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks. Indefensible. Let’s hear what a few of your colleagues within the press workplace instructed us about their response to the identical 4:17 message. [Begin Videotape]

JUDD DEERE: I felt prefer it was absolutely the naked minimal of what might have been mentioned at that time for one thing on digital camera.

UNKNOWN: What else do you suppose ought to have been mentioned?

JUDD DEERE: So — a extra forceful — a extra forceful dismissal of the violence, a extra forceful command to go residence, a extra forceful respect for regulation enforcement, even a comparability to the respect that we now have given regulation enforcement because it pertains to what was completed to them within the prior summer season. And I assumed it was vital that an acknowledgment be given to the US Capitol constructing itself.

What it is a image of, what it means, not solely to the people who work there, however to the American individuals typically, and the work of Congress that by regulation wanted to be performed that day.

UNKNOWN: Do you want in hindsight that the President had requested the protesters to depart the Capitol sooner than he ended up asking them to try this?

KAYLEIGH MCENANY: After all, I’d have cherished if the go residence message would have occurred earlier within the day. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: The President’s phrases matter. We all know that most of the rioters have been listening to President Trump. We heard from one final week, Stephen Ayres. Let’s hearken to what he needed to say in regards to the 4:17 message from the President and see how rioters reacted to the President’s message in actual time.

STEPHEN AYRES: Effectively, once we have been there, as quickly as that come out, everyone began speaking about it. And that is — it appeared prefer it began to disperse. You understand a few of the crowd —

UNKNOWN: I am right here delivering the President’s message. Donald Trump has requested everyone to go residence. [off-mic] That is our order. [off-mic] He says, go residence. He says, go residence. [off-mic] Yeah. He mentioned to go residence. [End Videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: However simply as Mr. Ayres mentioned, police have been nonetheless warding off the final throes of the brutal assault. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

ADAM KINZINGER: Whereas everybody else was working to get Congress again in session, what did President Trump do? At 6:01, only one minute after the citywide curfew went into impact, he posted his final tweet of the day. After officers engaged in a number of hours of hand-to-hand fight with over 100 of them sustaining accidents, President Trump tweeted at 6:01 and justified the violence as a pure response to the election.

ADAM KINZINGER: He mentioned, quote, “these are the issues and occasions that occur when a sacred landslide victory is so unceremoniously, viciously stripped away from nice patriots who’ve been badly, unfairly handled for therefore lengthy. Go residence with love and peace. Bear in mind this present day endlessly. He referred to as the mob nice patriots. He instructed individuals to recollect the day endlessly. He confirmed completely no regret. A couple of minutes later at 6:27 the President left the eating room and he went as much as the White Home residence for the evening.

On the display screen is the final {photograph} of the President that evening as he went into the residence. As he was gathering his issues within the eating room to depart, President Trump mirrored on the day’s occasions with a White Home worker. This was the identical worker who had met President Trump within the Oval Workplace after he returned from the ellipse.

President Trump mentioned nothing to the worker in regards to the assault. He mentioned solely quote, “Mike Pence let me down.” Ms. Matthews, what was your response to President Trump’s 6:01 tweet?

SARAH MATTHEWS: At that time, I had already made the choice to resign. And this tweet simply additional cemented my determination. I assumed that January sixth, 2021 was one of many darkest days in our nation’s historical past and President Trump was treating it as a celebratory event with that tweet. And so it simply additional cemented my determination to resign.

ADAM KINZINGER: Others agreed together with your evaluation of that tweet. Let’s take a look at what they needed to say. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: Who requested you about this tweet earlier than it was despatched?

NICHOLAS LUNA: The President.

UNKNOWN: Inform us about that dialog and every little thing that you simply mentioned and he mentioned to one of the best of your recollection.

NICHOLAS LUNA: Certain. So he mentioned what do you consider this. And I consider I noticed the textual content message — or the — on his telephone. And I — I bear in mind saying to him the wording on the primary sentence — I assume it is one lengthy sentence. However the wording on the primary sentence would lead some to consider that probably he had one thing to do with the occasions that occurred on the Capitol.

UNKNOWN: What did he say?

NICHOLAS LUNA: I do not recall him saying something in response to that. And I consider that was the top of the dialog.

UNKNOWN: Did he change something in gentle of your feedback?

NICHOLAS LUNA: No, Sir, he didn’t.

UNKNOWN: And what about this made you suppose that somebody would possibly understand the President having a task within the violence on the Capitol?

NICHOLAS LUNA: It — it was my interpretation of the phrases. I imply, I am — I am not a — you realize, I do not write speeches or something, however the phrase these are the issues that occur to me sounded as if — as if culpability was related to it. To me.

TIM MURTAUGH: I do not suppose it is a patriotic act to assault the Capitol. However I do not know methods to characterize the individuals apart from they trespassed, destroyed property, and assaulted the US Capitol. I feel calling them patriots is, for example, a stretch to say the least.

UNKNOWN: Is that every one it’s, a stretch? Or simply flatly unsuitable?

TIM MURTAUGH: I do not suppose it is a patriotic act to assault the US Capitol.

UNKNOWN: Would you name it unpatriotic?

TIM MURTAUGH: Felony. Unpatriotic, positive.

PAT CIPOLLONE: What occurred on the Capitol can’t be justified in any type or vogue. It was unsuitable and it was tragic and loads — and it — and it was a horrible day. It was a horrible day for this nation.

GREG JACOB: I assumed it was inappropriate.

UNKNOWN: Why.

GREG JACOB: To my thoughts, it was a day that must be remembered in infamy. That wasn’t the tenor of this tweet. [End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Regardless of the violence of the day, the trouble to delay the certification continued. That night, Rudy Giuliani referred to as a number of of President Trump’s closest political allies within the hour earlier than the joint session resumed. Consultant Jim Jordan and Senators Marsha Blackburn, Tommy Tuberville, Invoice Haggerty, Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, and Ted Cruz.

We all know why Mr. Giuliani was calling them, as a result of at 7:02 he left a voicemail for Senator Tuberville which later turned public. Let’s hear to simply the beginning of it. [Begin Videotape]

RUDY GIULIANI: Hiya. Senator Tuberville? Or I ought to say Coach Tuberville. That is Rudy Giuliani, President’s lawyer. I am calling you as a result of I need to talk about with you ways they’re making an attempt to hurry this listening to and the way we want you, our Republican buddies, to attempt to simply gradual it down so we are able to get these legislatures to get extra data to you.

[End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Mr. Giuliani didn’t even point out the assault on the Capitol. As an alternative he was pushing on behalf of President Trump to get members of Congress to additional delay the certification. Although some members did proceed with objections, Vice President Pence and Congress stood agency and efficiently concluded the joint session within the early morning hours of January seventh. Listed here are a few of what members of the President’s celebration mentioned within the days and weeks after the assault.

[Begin Videotape]

MITCH MCCONNELL: There is no query, none, that President Trump is virtually and morally accountable for scary the occasions of the day. No query about it. The individuals who stormed this constructing believed they have been performing on the needs and directions of their President. And having that perception was a foreseeable consequence of the rising crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole which the defeated President saved shouting into the biggest megaphone on planet Earth.

KEVIN MCCARTHY: The violence, destruction, and chaos we noticed earlier was unacceptable, undemocratic, and un-American. It was the saddest day I’ve ever had as serving as a member of this establishment.

CHIP ROY: Madam Speaker, immediately the Folks’s Home was attacked which is an assault on the Republic itself. There is no such thing as a excuse for it. A girl died, and other people must go to jail. And the President ought to by no means have spun up sure Individuals to consider one thing that merely can’t be. [End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: Effectively after three within the morning Congress licensed the 2020 election outcomes. Quickly after, this assertion by President Trump was posted on Dan Scavino’s Twitter account as a result of the President’s account by now had been suspended. As you’ll be able to see, President Trump caught along with his massive lie that the election was stolen, however he did say there could be an orderly transition.

We discovered although that the assertion was not essentially his thought. Jason Miller, a marketing campaign advisor, instructed us that after the joint session began, he heard nothing from President Trump or the White Home about assuring the nation that the switch of energy would happen. So Mr. Miller took it upon himself to draft the assertion and name the President at 9:23 that evening to persuade him to place it out.

Let’s hearken to what he needed to say in regards to the name. [Begin Videotape]

UNKNOWN: Did he disagree with one thing that you simply had put within the assertion? Some specific phrase or phrase that — that he didn’t need included?

JASON MILLER: I would say only a — that he wished to say peaceable transition. And I mentioned that ships form of already sailed. So we will say orderly transition. That was — that was in regards to the extent of disagreement or — or pushback from the dialog. [End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: The final particular person President Trump spoke to by telephone that evening was Johnny McEntee, his head of personnel. Mr. McEntee instructed us that they talked in regards to the occasions of the day and the a number of resignation by — by Administration officers. The choice whether or not to resign was one which weighed closely on individuals within the Administration.

On the one hand, individuals like Mr. Pottinger and Miss Matthews right here, as proud as they have been to have served refused to be related to President Trump’s dereliction of obligation. However others have been sincerely apprehensive that leaving President Trump to his personal gadgets would put the nation at continued danger. Take heed to what we heard about that rigidity from Pat Cipollone, from Common Mark Milley, and Eugene Scalia, who was the Secretary of Labor.

[Begin Videotape]

PAT CIPOLLONE: After which after that some individuals have been resigning, clearly, over January sixth. We all know who they — they have been. Did I take into account it? Sure. Did I do it? No. Involved about is that if individuals within the counsel’s workplace left, who would — who would exchange me? And I had some issues that it is perhaps any person who, you realize, had been giving unhealthy recommendation.

EUGENE SCALIA: On the morning of the seventh the choice I arrived at was that essentially the most constructive factor I might consider was to hunt a gathering of the cupboard. You understand, I assumed that making an attempt to work throughout the Administration to regular the ship was prone to have, you realize, larger worth than merely resigning, after which level I’d have been powerless to actually have an effect on issues with the Administration.

PAT CIPOLLONE: Eugene thought that there must be a cupboard assembly.

UNKNOWN: Have you learnt why Mark thought it will not be productive?

PAT CIPOLLONE: I — I — I do not bear in mind why. I — I feel it most likely had one thing to do with Mark’s view of how the President would possibly react and that he — you realize, however issues like that.

MARK MILLEY: There was a few the calls the place, you realize, Meadows and or Pompeo, however extra Meadows, you realize, how — how is the President doing? Like, Pompeo would possibly say how’s the President doing? And Meadows would say, properly, he is in a extremely darkish place. Like this is one, for instance, on the seventh of January. So it is a day after, proper?

POTUS could be very emotional and in a foul place. Meadows. [End Videotape]

ADAM KINZINGER: As you heard Secretary Scalia wished President Trump to convene a cupboard assembly. He put his request in a memo to the President and this is what it mentioned. You possibly can see that Secretary Scalia beneficial that the President quote, “Now not publicly query the election outcomes after Wednesday, nobody can deny that is dangerous.” Secretary Scalia additionally highlighted the significance of the general public realizing the President would invoke his cupboard in determination making and never quote “sure personal people.” Although Secretary Scalia didn’t say it, he was referring to Rudy Giuliani and the remainder of the so-called clown automobile working with President Trump to attempt to overturn the election.

Secretary Scalia understood that the President wanted to do extra to reassure the general public about the previous few weeks of the Trump Administration. Mr. Pottinger, once you made the choice to resign, did — did you stroll out of the White Home instantly?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: No, I wished to first speak to my rapid boss. That was the Nationwide Safety Advisor Robert O’Brien. Robert O’Brien was touring on the sixth. I reached him at about 4:30 p.m. and instructed him that I used to be submitting my resignation. He accepted the resignation. However he additionally requested whether or not I might keep till he might get again to the White Home.

And — and I agreed to that. We — we each wished to ensure that I used to be leaving in a accountable approach. We — we nonetheless have international adversaries to fret about, you realize, hackers, terrorists, nation states. And I didn’t need to go away my chair empty provided that I used to be the highest nationwide safety staffer within the White Home.

So I ended up staying at my desk by means of the evening. When Robert O’Brien arrived again on the White Home the subsequent morning, the morning of the seventh, I debriefed with him and left for the final time.

ADAM KINZINGER: So that you and I each share a ardour for nationwide safety of our nation. Are you able to share with me what’s your view on how January sixth impacted our nationwide safety?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Effectively, when — when you might have a Presidential transition, even underneath one of the best circumstances it’s a — it is a time of vulnerability. It is a time of vulnerability for, you realize, when you might have a contested election — I used to be actually involved that a few of our adversaries could be tempted to probe or take a look at US resolve.

For instance, in late December the Iranian authorities attacked the US embassy in Baghdad. They did that utilizing a few of their terrorist proxies. President Trump did deal with that. He — he despatched a really clear warning to the Ayatollah and his regime, which I feel had a – – had a helpful impact. I — I feel that we might have dealt with different threats of that nature, and by chance no different threats materialized earlier than the inauguration on the twentieth. However our nationwide safety was harmed otherwise by the sixth of January.

And that’s that it — I — I feel it emboldened our — our enemies by serving to give them ammunition to feed a story that our system of presidency would not work, that the US is in decline. China, the — the Putin regime in Russia, Tehran, they’re keen on pushing these sorts of narratives. And by the best way, they’re unsuitable.

The — you realize, we have been listening to, for the whole thing of US historical past from kings and despots, that the US is — is in decline, and people kings and despots have been confirmed unsuitable each single time. However nonetheless, January sixth helped feed a notion that I feel emboldens our adversaries. You understand, the — the opposite half I — I feel is just our — our allies.

I heard from quite a lot of buddies in Europe, in Asia, allies, shut buddies, and supporters of the US that they have been involved in regards to the well being of our democracy. And so, I feel it is incumbent upon us to place their minds comfy, to place our personal hearts comfy, by investigating what occurred on the sixth and ensuring that it by no means occurs once more.

ADAM KINZINGER: Look, I’ve at all times mentioned democracies aren’t outlined by unhealthy days. They’re outlined by how they get well from these unhealthy days. And that is what we’re doing right here, is to carry accountability to that so we are able to really come again even stronger than once we went into January sixth. Ms. Matthews, as you left the White Home for the final time that evening on January sixth, what did you suppose Individuals wanted to listen to from President Trump?

SARAH MATTHEWS: I feel that the American individuals wanted to listen to and see him publicly decide to a peaceable or a minimum of orderly transition of energy. Within the aftermath of the Capitol assault, it wasn’t simply sufficient for us to ask him to sentence the violence. He wanted to agree that he would peacefully switch energy over to the incoming administration, as a result of that is certainly one of our fundamentals and what it means to dwell in a democracy.

And so, that night after I resigned, the resignation assertion that I drafted, I referenced this and I mentioned our nation wants a peaceable switch of energy, in hopes that it will put some kind of public strain on the White Home and President Trump to publicly comply with an orderly transition.

ADAM KINZINGER: Thanks. I yield to my pal from Virginia.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks, Mr. Kinzinger. The workers who remained on the White Home on the morning of January seventh knew the president wanted to handle the nation once more. And so they had a speech ready for him that morning, however he refused for hours to present it. As you heard Cassidy Hutchison testify beforehand, President Trump lastly agreed to report an tackle to the nation later that night, the night of January seventh, due to issues he is perhaps faraway from energy underneath the twenty fifth Modification or by impeachment.

We all know these threats have been actual. Sean Hannity mentioned so himself in a textual content message that day to Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. He wrote “No extra stolen election speak. Sure, impeachment and twenty fifth Modification are actual.” We obtained the by no means earlier than seen uncooked footage of the president recording his tackle to the nation that day on January seventh, greater than 24 hours after the final time he had addressed the nation from the Rose Backyard.

Let’s have a look. [Begin videotape]

UNKNOWN: Everytime you’re prepared, sir.

DONALD TRUMP: I want to start by addressing the heinous assault yesterday. And to those that broke the regulation, you’ll pay. You don’t signify our motion. You don’t signify our nation. And for those who broke the regulation — I am unable to say that. I am not gonna — I already mentioned you’ll pay. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defied the seat of — it is defiled, proper?

See, I am unable to see it very properly. I will do that. I am going to do that. Let’s go. However this election is now over. Congress has licensed the outcomes. I do not need to say the election’s over. I simply need to say Congress has licensed the outcomes with out saying the election’s over, okay?

IVANKA TRUMP: However Congress has — now Congress has —

DONALD TRUMP: Yeah, proper.

IVANKA TRUMP: Now Congress.

DONALD TRUMP: I did not say over. So, let — let me see. Do not go to the paragraph earlier than. Okay? I want to start by addressing the heinous assault yesterday. Yesterday is a tough phrase for me.

IVANKA TRUMP: Simply take it out. Say heinous assault.

UNKNOWN: Say heinous assault on our nation.

DONALD TRUMP: Ah, good. Take the phrase yesterday out, as a result of it would not work with the heinous assault on our nation. Say on our nation. Wish to say that?

IVANKA TRUMP: No, preserve it.

DONALD TRUMP: My solely objective was to make sure the integrity of the vote. My solely objective was to make sure the integrity of the vote. [End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: On January seventh, someday after he incited an rebellion primarily based on a lie, President Trump nonetheless couldn’t say that the election was over. Mr. Pottinger, you have taken the oath a number of instances within the Marines and as an official within the govt department. Are you able to please share with us your view in regards to the oath of workplace and the way that interprets into accepting election outcomes and a switch of energy?

MATTHEW POTTINGER: Certain. You understand, this is not the primary time that we have had an in depth election on this nation. And President Trump actually had each proper to problem in courtroom the outcomes of those varied elections. However as soon as you have had due course of underneath the regulation, it’s a must to conform with the regulation irrespective of how bitter the consequence.

As soon as you have introduced your proof in courtroom, judges have heard that proof, judges have dominated, for those who proceed to contest an election, you are not simply contesting an election anymore, you are really difficult the Structure itself. You’re difficult the societal norms that permit us to stay unified.

I feel that one instance, for instance, you have acquired Vice President Richard Nixon again in 1960 had misplaced a tough fought election in opposition to Senator John F Kennedy. There have been irregularities in that vote, in accordance with quite a lot of the histories. And quite a lot of Vice President Nixon’s supporters requested him to struggle, contest it, do not concede.

However in certainly one of his best moments, Vice President Nixon mentioned no. He mentioned it will tear the nation to items. And he conceded to Jack Kennedy and introduced that he was going to assist him as the subsequent president. We have now an instance of a Democratic candidate for President, Vice President Al Gore, who confronted a really comparable dilemma.

He strongly disagreed with the Supreme Courtroom determination that misplaced his election bid and allowed President George W Bush to take workplace. However he gave a speech of concession in late December, mid or late December of — of 2000, the place he mentioned that is for the sake of the unity of — of us as a individuals and for the power of our democracy.

I additionally am going to concede. I will should assist the — the brand new president. His speech is definitely a reasonably good mannequin, I feel, for any candidate of — for any workplace as much as and together with the president, and from any celebration to learn, notably proper now. You understand, the oath that our presidents take, it is similar to the oath of workplace I took as a US Marine officer and the — the oath I took as a White Home official.

It’s to — to assist and defend the Structure. It is to guard the Structure, to bear true religion and allegiance to the Structure. And it’s a sacred oath. It is an oath that we take earlier than our households. We take that oath earlier than God. And I feel that we now have an obligation to dwell by — by that oath.

And I do nonetheless consider that we now have essentially the most ingenious system of presidency on earth regardless of its imperfections. I do not envy nations that do not have this technique that really permits for a predictable, peaceable switch of presidency each 4 to eight years. And it isn’t one thing that we must always take with no consideration.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks. As we heard firstly of the listening to, within the rapid aftermath of January sixth, Republican chief Kevin McCarthy understood that President Trump bore accountability for that day and may have taken rapid motion to cease the violence. He was much more candid in calls with Republican colleagues.

As you may hear in a second, recordings of a few of these calls that have been made have been later printed by The New York Instances. The context for these calls was {that a} decision had been launched within the Home calling for Vice President Pence and the Cupboard to take away President Trump from energy underneath the twenty fifth Modification.

Let’s hear. [Begin videotape]

KEVIN MCCARTHY: I’ve had it with this man. What he did is unacceptable. No person can defend that and no one ought to defend it. The one discussions I’d have with him is that I feel this may cross and it will be my advice he ought to resign. I imply, that will be my take, however I do not suppose he would take it, however I do not know.

However let me be very clear to all of you, and I have been very clear to the president. He bears accountability for his phrases and actions, no ifs, ands, or buts. I requested him personally immediately does he maintain accountability for what occurred? Does he really feel unhealthy about what occurred? He instructed me he does have some accountability for what occurred and he wanted to acknowledge that.

[End videotape]

ELAINE LURIA: President Trump has by no means publicly acknowledged his accountability for the assault. The one time he apparently did so was in that non-public name with Kevin McCarthy. There’s one thing else President Trump has by no means acknowledged, the names and the recollections of the officers who died following the assault on the Capitol.

We’re honored to be joined tonight by police and first responders who bravely protected us on January sixth. Your character and braveness give us hope that democracy can and may prevail even within the face of a violent rebellion. We on this dais can by no means thanks sufficient for what you probably did to guard our democracy.

On January ninth, two of President Trump’s prime marketing campaign officers texted one another in regards to the president’s evident silence on the tragic loss of life of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who succumbed to his accidents the evening of January seventh. His marketing campaign officers have been Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s director of communications, and certainly one of his deputies, Matthew Wolking.

Their job was to persuade individuals to vote for President Trump, so that they knew his coronary heart, his thoughts, and his voice in addition to anybody, they usually knew how he connects along with his supporters. Here is what they needed to say about their boss. Murtaugh mentioned, “Additionally shitty to not have acknowledged the loss of life of the Capitol Police officer.” Wolking responded, “That is enraging to me. All the things he mentioned about supporting regulation enforcement was a lie,” to which Murtaugh replied, “You understand what that is in fact?

If he acknowledged the useless cop, he’d be implicitly faulting the mob. And he will not try this as a result of they’re his individuals. And it will even be near acknowledging that what he lit on the rally acquired uncontrolled. No approach he acknowledges one thing that would in the end be referred to as his fault. No approach.” President Trump didn’t then and doesn’t now have the character or braveness to say to the American individuals what his personal individuals know to be true.

He’s accountable for the assault on the Capitol on January sixth. Thanks, and I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

ADAM KINZINGER: Thanks, Ms. Luria. Tonight’s testimony and proof is as sobering as it’s simple. Inside minutes of stepping off the Ellipse stage, Donald Trump knew in regards to the violent assault on the Capitol. From the consolation of his eating room, he watched on TV because the assault escalated. He despatched tweets that infected and expressed assist for the will of some to actually kill Vice President Mike Pence.

For 3 hours, he refused to name off the assault. Donald Trump refused to take the pressing recommendation he obtained that day, not from his political opponents or from the liberal media, however from his family, his personal buddies, his personal workers, and his personal advisers. Within the midst of an assault when there was no time for politics, the individuals closest to Trump instructed him the reality.

ADAM KINZINGER: It was his supporters attacking the Capitol and he alone might get by means of to them, so that they pled for him to behave, to position his nation above himself. Nonetheless, he refused to steer and to satisfy the second to honor his oath. It was solely as soon as the vice chairman and the members of Congress have been in safe places and the officers defending the Capitol started to show the tide that then President Trump engaged within the political theater of telling the mob to go residence. And even then he instructed all of them they have been particular and that he cherished them. No matter your politics, no matter you consider the end result of the election, we as Individuals should all agree on this. Donald Trump’s conduct on January sixth was a supreme violation of his oath of workplace and an entire dereliction of his obligation to our nation.

It’s a stain on our historical past. It’s a dishonor to all those that have sacrificed and died in service of our democracy. Once we current our full findings, we are going to advocate modifications to legal guidelines and insurance policies to protect in opposition to one other January sixth. The rationale that is crucial is that the forces Donald Trump ignited that day haven’t gone away.

The militant illiberal ideologies, the militias, the alienation and the disaffection, the bizarre fantasies and disinformation, they’re all nonetheless on the market able to go. That is the elephant within the room. But when January sixth has reminded us of something, I pray it’s reminded us of this, legal guidelines are simply phrases on paper.

They imply nothing with out public servants devoted to the rule of regulation and who’re held accountable by a public that believes oath issues — oaths matter greater than celebration tribalism or a budget thrill of scoring political factors. We — the individuals should demand extra of our legislators and ourselves. Oaths matter.

Character issues. Reality issues. If we don’t renew our religion and dedication to those ideas, this nice experiment of ours, our shining beacon on a hill, is not going to endure. I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia.

ELAINE LURIA: Thanks, Mr. Kinzinger. All through our hearings, we have offered many details and painted a vivid image of the occasions of January sixth. The violence, the human toll, each emotional and bodily, together with the tragic lack of life, the threats to our Structure, the rule of regulation, and the hazard to this nation, a nation all of us love as Individuals.

In tonight’s listening to, we have gone into nice element in regards to the occasions contained in the White Home on January sixth. We have described how the President of the US who was sure by oath to the Structure and by obligation to make sure the legal guidelines are faithfully executed, took no motion when the cornerstone of our democracy, a peaceable transition of energy, was underneath assault.

But it surely’s greater than that, Donald Trump summoned a violent mob and promised to steer that mob to the Capitol to compel these he thought would cave to that form of strain. And when he was thwarted in his effort to steer the armed rebellion, he instigated the attackers to focus on the Vice President with violence, a person who simply wished to do his constitutional obligation.

So in the long run, this isn’t as it might seem, a narrative of inaction in a time of disaster, however as an alternative it was the ultimate motion of Donald Trump’s personal plan to claim the desire of the American individuals and stay in energy. Not till it was clear that his effort to violently disrupt or delay the counting of the election outcomes had failed did he ship his message — a message to his supporters wherein he commensurated with their ache and he instructed them affectionately to go residence.

That was not the message of condemnation and simply punishment for many who broke the regulation that we anticipate from a President whose oath and obligation is to make sure the legal guidelines are faithfully executed. However as an alternative, It was his latest model of Stand Again and Stand By. To me, that is private. I first swore an oath to assist and defend the Structure in opposition to enemies, international and home, after I entered the US Naval Academy at age 17. I spent twenty years on ships at sea defending our nation from identified and identifiable international enemies who sought to do us hurt.

I by no means imagined that that enemy would come from inside. I used to be not as pression [ph] as Abraham Lincoln who 23 years earlier than the Civil Conflict mentioned, if destruction be our lot, we should ourselves be its creator and its finisher. Donald Trump was the creator. And we the individuals, for ourselves and our posterity, mustn’t let Donald Trump be the finisher.

Thanks. And I yield to the Vice Chair.

LIZ CHENEY: Thanks very a lot, Mrs. Luria. I need to thank our witnesses for becoming a member of us immediately. The members of the Choose Committee might have further questions for immediately’s witnesses and we ask that you simply reply expeditiously in writing to these questions. With out objection, members might be permitted ten enterprise days to submit statements for the report, together with opening remarks and extra questions from our witnesses.

I would now like to show issues to Chairman Thompson for a number of closing phrases.

BENNIE THOMPSON: The members of the committee and I recognize and thank all individuals who’ve come ahead voluntarily to offer data to assist shield our democracy, and our work continues. As we have made clear all through these hearings, our investigation goes ahead. We proceed to obtain new data day-after-day.

We’re pursuing many further witnesses for testimony. We are going to reconvene in September to proceed laying out our findings to the American individuals and pushing for accountability. Within the first listening to of this collection, I requested American individuals to contemplate the details and choose for themselves. The details are clear and unambiguous.

I thank the American individuals for his or her consideration over the previous a number of weeks. I want you all a nice night.

LIZ CHENEY: And let me once more thank our witnesses immediately. We have seen bravery and honor in these hearings. And Ms. Matthews and Mr. Pottinger, each of you’ll be remembered for that. As will Cassidy Hutchinson. She sat right here alone took the oath and testified earlier than tens of millions of Individuals. She knew all alongside that she could be attacked by President Trump and by the 50, 60, and 70 12 months outdated males who cover themselves behind govt privilege.

However like our witnesses immediately, she has braveness and he or she did it anyway. Cassidy, Sara, and our different witnesses together with Officer Caroline Edwards, Shaye Moss and her mom, Ruby Freeman, are an inspiration to American ladies and to American ladies. We owe a debt to all of those that have and can seem right here.

And that brings me to a different level. This committee has proven you the testimony of dozens of Republican witnesses, those that served President Trump loyally for years. The case in opposition to Donald Trump in these hearings just isn’t made by witnesses who have been his political enemies, it’s as an alternative a collection of confessions by Donald Trump’s personal appointees, his personal buddies, his personal marketing campaign officers, individuals who labored for him for years, and his family.

They’ve come ahead they usually have instructed the American individuals the reality. And for these of you who appeared to suppose the proof could be totally different if Republican Chief McCarthy had not withdrawn his nominees from this committee, let me ask you this, do you actually suppose Invoice Barr is such a fragile flower that he would wilt underneath cross- examination?

Pat Cipollone, Eric Herscmann, Jeff Rosen, Richard Donoghue? After all they don’t seem to be. None of our witnesses are. At one level in 2016 when he was first operating for workplace Donald Trump mentioned this, I might stand in the midst of Fifth Avenue and shoot any person and I would not lose any voters. That quote got here to thoughts final week when audio from Trump advisor, Steve Bannon, surfaced from October thirty first, 2020, only a few days earlier than the Presidential election.

Let’s hear. [Begin Videotape]

STEVE BANNON: And what Trump’s going to do is declare victory, proper? He will declare victory, however that does not imply he is a winner. He is simply gonna say he is a winner. The Democrats — extra of our individuals vote early that depend. Theirs vote in mail. And so they are going to have a pure drawback and Trump’s going to take benefit — that is our technique.

He is gonna declare himself a winner. So once you get up Wednesday morning, it may be a firestorm. Additionally — additionally if Trump is — if Trump is dropping by 10 or 11:00 at evening, it may be even crazier. As a result of he is gonna sit proper there and say they stole it. If Biden’s wining, Trump goes to do some loopy shit.

[End Videotape]

LIZ CHENEY: And naturally, 4 days later, President Trump declared victory when his personal marketing campaign advisors instructed him he had completely no foundation to take action. What the brand new Steve Bannon audio demonstrates is that Donald Trump’s plan to falsely declare victory in 2020 it doesn’t matter what the details really have been was premeditated. Maybe worse, Donald Trump believed he might persuade his voters to purchase it whether or not he had any precise proof of fraud or not.

And this similar factor continued to happen from Election Day onward till January sixth. Donald Trump was assured that he might persuade his supporters the election was stolen irrespective of what number of lawsuits he misplaced, and he misplaced scores of them. He was instructed over and over in immense element that the election was not stolen.

There was no proof of widespread fraud. It did not matter. Donald Trump was assured he might persuade his supporters to consider no matter he mentioned irrespective of how outlandish and in the end that they may very well be summoned to Washington to assist him stay President for one more time period. As we confirmed you final week, even President Trump’s authorized group led by Rudy Giuliani knew that they had no precise proof to exhibit the election was stolen.

Once more, it did not matter. Here is the worst half. Donald Trump is aware of that tens of millions of Individuals who supported him would arise and defend our nation have been it threatened. They’d put their lives and their freedom at stake to guard her. And he’s preying on their patriotism. He’s preying on their sense of justice.

And on January sixth, Donald Trump turned their love of nation right into a weapon in opposition to our Capitol and our Structure. He has purposely created the misunderstanding that America is threatened by a international drive controlling voting machines or {that a} wave of tens of tens of millions of false ballots have been secretly injected into our election system or that poll staff have secret thumb drives and are stealing elections with them.

All full nonsense. We should do not forget that we can not abandon the reality and stay a free nation. In late November of 2020, whereas President Trump was nonetheless pursuing lawsuits, many people have been urging him to place any real proof of fraud ahead within the courts and to simply accept the end result of these instances. As January sixth approached, I circulated a memo to my Republican colleagues explaining why our Congressional proceedings to depend electoral votes couldn’t be used to alter the end result of the election.

However what I didn’t know on the time was that President Trump’s personal advisors, additionally Republicans, additionally conservatives, together with his White Home counsel, his Justice Division, his marketing campaign officers, they have been all telling him nearly precisely the identical factor I used to be telling my colleagues. There was no proof of fraud or irregularities ample to alter the election final result.

Our courts had dominated it was over. Now we all know that it did not matter what any of us mentioned as a result of Donald Trump wasn’t in search of the precise reply legally or the precise reply factually. He was in search of a option to stay in workplace. Let’s put that apart for a second and focus simply on what we noticed immediately. In our listening to tonight, you noticed an American President confronted with a stark and unmistakable alternative between proper and unsuitable.

There was no ambiguity. No nuance. Donald Trump made a purposeful option to violate his oath of workplace, to disregard the continued violence in opposition to regulation enforcement, to threaten our constitutional order. There is no such thing as a option to excuse that habits. It was indefensible. And each American should take into account this, can a President who’s prepared to make the alternatives Donald Trump made throughout the violence of January sixth ever be trusted with any place of authority in our nice nation once more?

On this room in 1918, the Committee on Girls’s Suffrage convened to debate and debate whether or not ladies must be granted the precise to vote. This room is stuffed with historical past and we on this committee know we now have a solemn obligation to not idly squander what so many Individuals have fought and died for. Ronald Reagan’s nice ally, Margaret Thatcher, mentioned this, let it by no means be mentioned that the dedication of those that love freedom is lower than the dedication of those that would destroy it. Let me guarantee each certainly one of you this, our committee understands the gravity of this second, the results for our nation.

We have now a lot work but to do and we are going to see you all in September. I request these within the listening to room stay seated till the Capitol Police have escorted witnesses and members from the room. With out objection, the committee stands adjourned.

Record of Panel Members

PANEL MEMBERS: REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MISS.), CHAIRMAN REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CALIF.)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CALIF.)

REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CALIF.)

REP. STEPHANIE MURPHY (D-FLA.)

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD.)

REP. ELAINE LURIA (D-VA.)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WYO.)

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-ILL.)

FORMER DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MATTHEW POTTINGER FORMER DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SARAH MATTHEWS