Thursday’s congressional committee listening to into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot by supporters of Donald Trump featured minute-by-minute accountings of the then-president’s actions — and inaction — as his supporters launched a violent assault.
Here are six takeaways from the listening to:
Hawley raises fist, then runs
The committee confirmed a well known picture of conservative Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who’s regarded as eyeing a run for president, exterior the Capitol elevating his arm, hand balled right into a fist, to encourage the gathering offended crowds nonetheless being held behind safety strains.
While that picture was acquainted, certainly one which Hawley has used to boost cash, the committee adopted up with new pictures: Multiple video clips of Hawley working from the rioters, first fleeing throughout a hallway and later down a flight of steps.
Silence within the chamber is damaged – and changed with laughter – when @January6thCmte exhibits video of @HawleyMO fleeing rioters in Capitol.
And identical to a well-produced TV program…they promise extra…after the break. pic.twitter.com/6zAxyYWkhi
— Noah Pransky (@noahpransky) July 22, 2022
The listening to room, full of reporters, congressional aides, safety employees and guests broke into laughter because the footage was performed.
Saying goodbye to households
Vice President Mike Pence sheltered in his ceremonial workplace on the second ground of the Senate as rioters pushed nearer and nearer, as seen in movies proven on the listening to.
There was smoke in a close-by hallway as US Capitol Police tried to corral a bunch of attackers, and Secret Service brokers desperately tried to determine whether or not they might safely evacuate Pence to a different location on the Capitol grounds.
The Vice President additionally labored the telephones from his personal safe evacuation location.
Look at never-before-seen pictures of the Vice President throughout the Capitol assault and listen to concerning the Pence’s conversations with army leaders to safe the constructing. pic.twitter.com/MAwzCwJent
— January sixth Committee (@January6thCmte) July 22, 2022
“The security detail of the vice president was starting to fear for their own lives,” one nameless White House safety official testified on video performed on the listening to.
Rioters had been simply ft away, the official testified, including that brokers had been “screaming and saying goodbye to family.”
Pence in the end was hurried to a Capitol loading dock.
Jan. 6 ’emboldened’ US adversaries
Matthew Pottinger, a deputy nationwide safety adviser beneath Trump, testified that the riot not solely resulted in US allies voicing concern “about the health of our democracy,” but in addition gave consolation to America’s adversaries.
“I think it emboldened our enemies by helping give them ammunition to feed a narrative that our system of government doesn’t work; that the United States is in decline,” Pottinger mentioned.
Even earlier than January 6, as Trump falsely claimed the presidential election was stolen from him, Pottinger mentioned he feared Washington’s adversaries could be tempted to check US resolve, noting an assault in late December on the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, by militias he mentioned had been backed by Iran.
High-profile hearings not over but
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson mentioned the investigation is continuous with extra individuals providing to be witnesses.
Thompson tamped down hypothesis that this eighth listening to of the summer time stands out as the final, saying extra are in retailer for September, simply weeks earlier than the November 8 midterm elections that may resolve whether or not Republicans take majority management of the Senate or House of Representatives.
Trump ‘chose’ to not cease the riot
Representative Adam Kinzinger, considered one of two Republicans on the House’s choose committee, portrayed a president who was happy with the violence he watched unfolding on the Capitol on January 6
These Donald Trump Junior texts (with the profanity) simply learn out on nationwide tv by @RepKinzinger throughout the @January6thCmte primetime listening to. pic.twitter.com/xEZXkThZvF
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 22, 2022
“The mob was accomplishing President Trump’s purpose, so of course he didn’t intervene” to cease the violence till greater than three hours after it had begun, Kinzinger mentioned. “President Trump did not fail to act during the 187 minutes between leaving the Ellipse and telling the mob to go home. He chose not to act.”
Trump made no calls to high officers
High-ranking officers, together with then-White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, testified on pre-recorded videotape that the president watched tv for hours throughout the Capitol riot within the White House eating room.
They mentioned that they weren’t conscious of Trump making telephone calls to Cabinet heads, together with the secretaries of protection and homeland safety, the lawyer basic or the National Guard, all of whom might have aided in stopping the violence on Capitol Hill.
