Trump ‘ignored threats of violence’

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump had to be restrained by his security detail and tried to grab the steering wheel of his presidential car during the January 6 riot last year, demanding “I’m the f..king president; take me to the Capitol now”, the hearing into the riot was told.

Details of the incident emerged in the latest session by the committee investigating the events.

The panel was told Mr Trump (pictured) had to be restrained from going to the Capitol to join his supporters as the violence unfolded.

When the Secret Service held him back, he lunged at the throat of his chief security agent. Later, back at the White House, he threw his lunch against the wall.

The latest hearing into the January 6 insurrection featured live testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Mark Meadows, Mr Trump’s former chief of staff. She said that Mr Trump and his inner circle ignored threats of violence in the days leading up to the riot last year in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to stop Congress confirming Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Mr Trump was warned on the day that many of his supporters outside the White House were carrying guns, but responded: “I don’t care if they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me.”

Ms Hutchinson said the president demanded metal detectors at security checkpoints be turned off so that armed protesters, including members of far-right groups, be allowed in to hear his speech, during which he urged supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his election defeat.

Her evidence was the most devastating yet presented to the hearing, supporting claims that Mr Trump and aides knew that violence was likely.

She recalled frequent mentions in the West Wing of the far-right groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, notably in front of Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump’s personal lawyer.