Investigation into Capitol rush: Trump accuses committee of “witch hunts”.

Investigation into Capitol Rush
Trump accuses committee of “witch hunts”.

For months, the committee of inquiry into the storming of the US Capitol questioned hundreds of witnesses. In a public session, the former US President is heavily charged. Trump promptly defended himself and criticized the work of the body as “unilateral” and “completely partisan”.

Former US President Donald Trump has accused the investigative committee into the storming of the US Capitol of being biased. “A one-sided, totally partisan, political witch hunt!” he wrote on the online platform Truth Social, which he co-founded. Trump also attacked his former attorney general, William Barr, who had called his allegations of voter fraud before the committee “bullshit.” “Barr was a coward,” wrote the ex-president. “He was stupid.”

Trump reiterated his disproven claim that the 2020 presidential election was “fake and stolen.” It was “the crime of the century”. He did not comment on the deadly attack by his supporters on the Capitol almost a year and a half ago.

After a speech by Trump, supporters of the then president stormed the seat of parliament in the capital Washington on January 6, 2021. They wanted to prevent Democrat Joe Biden’s November 2020 election victory from being confirmed. Several people died in the attack and dozens were injured.

The committee of inquiry met for the first time for a public meeting on Thursday evening during prime time. Among other things, the panel showed previously unpublished video material and excerpts from interviews with former members of the Trump administration. Committee members accused Trump of fueling the angry mob with his claims of fraud. Committee chairman Bennie Thompson spoke of an “attempted coup” and warned that democracy in the United States was still in danger.

“Trump summoned the mob”

The Congressional Committee of Inquiry was set up in the summer of 2021 to investigate the background to the attack on the Capitol. The panel spent months behind closed doors reviewing hundreds of witnesses and examining large amounts of documents and evidence. Excerpts from the surveys were shown for the first time in the public session. Deputy committee chair Liz Cheney, Republican and Trump critic, said the attack was “not a spontaneous uprising.” “President Trump summoned the mob, rallied the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.” For months, Trump coordinated an elaborate plan to overturn the outcome of the presidential election and prevent the transfer of power to his successor.

The panel revealed that Trump spoke positively about threats by his supporters against Vice President Mike Pence during the storming of the Capitol. Cheney, citing findings from the panel, said Trump knew about the threats and said, “Maybe our supporters have the right idea.” Pence deserves it, Cheney Trump continued.

On January 6, 2021, Pence, in his role as Vice President, chaired the session of Congress that confirmed Biden’s election victory. Trump’s supporters were also looking for Pence in the building at the time, whom they called a traitor and threatened to hang because he didn’t prevent Biden’s confirmation.

Policewoman and documentary filmmaker testify

According to the committee, Pence was the one who ended up calling in the National Guard to help bring the Capitol situation under control. This was stated by Chief of Staff Mark Milley in his survey, excerpts of which were also shown. However, the White House wanted to present it as if Trump had made the decision, it said. Two witnesses also testified live at the committee meeting: A policewoman who had been injured in the Capitol attack told in an impressive way about her traumatic experiences. And a documentary filmmaker who accompanied members of the right-wing militia “Proud Boys” on the day of the attack reported on his experiences.

The “Proud Boys” and the right-wing group “Oath Keepers” played a crucial role in the attack, according to the findings of the investigative committee. Some of them appeared in full combat gear and coordinated the attack. Members of both groups were arrested and charged after the storming. Most of the process is still ongoing. Further public hearings of the panel are to follow in the coming weeks. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday.

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