Trum p ’s ‘cou p ’ » Capitol Hill riots inquiry » Ex-president ‘lit flame’
DONALD Trump “lit the flame” of last year’s Capitol Hill riot in an attempted coup, a congressional investigation has heard.
Liz Cheney, the Republican vice-chair of the committee, said the former US President assembled the mob and told them “the election was stolen”.
As the hearing opened, it included an unseen 12-minute video of the riot and testimony by Mr Trump’s inner circle.
The panel said the former president’s lies about election fraud and his efforts to stop Joe Biden’s 2020 victory led to the attack and put US democracy in danger.
Chairman Bennie Thompson said the deadly violence was not an accident.
He added: “January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup, a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it, to overthrow the government.”
Footage was also aired of testimony by former US Attorney General Bill Barr, saying he had repeatedly told Mr Trump his claims of fraud were wrong.
Ivanka Trump, the ex-president’s daughter, also gave recorded evidence, adding she “accepted” Mr Barr’s rejection of her dad’s conspiracy theory.
Clips showed leaders of the extremist Oath Keepers and Proud Boys preparing to storm the Capitol.
The riot left nine people dead, including one woman who was killed by police, and more than 100 police officers injured, as the rioters, some armed with pipes, bats and bear spray, charged into the Capitol.
Police officer Caroline Edwards, who suffered serious injuries in the riot, testified in person on Thursday evening.
Ms Cheney added: “When a president fails to take the steps necessary to preserve our union – or worse, causes a constitutional crisis – we’re in a moment of maximum danger for our republic.”
There was a gasp when she read an account claiming when Mr Trump was told the crowds were chanting for Vice President Mike Pence to be hanged, he had replied he “deserves it”. The tycoon was angry Mr Pence, presiding in the House chamber, had refused his order to reject the certification of Mr Biden’s victory.
Before the inquiry opened, the first of six this month, Mr
Trump dismissed it as a “hoax”.
He has been hinting about another
White House run in 2024 and continues to peddle claims the poll was rigged by voter fraud.
Mr Trump yesterday sought to downplay his daughter’s involvement in his efforts to contest the result.
He wrote: “Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, election results.
“She had long since checked out and was, in my opinion, only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr and his position as Attorney General (he sucked!).”
Ivanka was not involved in looking at election results. She had long since checked out
DONALD TRUMP DISTANCES ROLE OF DAUGHTER IN CONTESTING POLL RESULT