Causes.com
| 7.22.22

Five Takeaways from the Jan. 6 Public Hearings
Should the Department of Justice prosecute Trump?
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol held its eighth and final public hearing until the fall on Thursday.
Here are five important takeaways from the Jan. 6 hearings:
What have we learned so far?
The committee holds former President Donald Trump responsible for the violence on Jan. 6.
- Through various witness testimonies, the committee demonstrated that Trump never took action to control the violence and believes the attack represented Trump's attempt to remain in power.
Trump was told repeatedly that he lost the election, yet rejected the information.
- A day after the attack, Trump taped an address where he refused to say a phrase on the teleprompter about the election being over. The committee noted several calls to Republican senators from Trump were made on Jan. 6 to urge them to delay the certification of Biden’s win.
The committee raised at least four crimes Trump may have committed.
- The committee believes Trump "corruptly" tried to stop an official proceeding of Congress, commit seditious conspiracy, engage in witness-tampering, and commit wire fraud. Several former prosecutors believe there is a credible case to be made against Trump for conspiracy to commit fraud or obstruct the work of Congress.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to change election laws.
- This group hopes to prevent another insurrection by updating the Electoral Count Act — a law used in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election by Trump and his allies. The bill would make it harder for Congress to challenge a state’s presidential results. Nine Republicans support the bill, which needs 10 to pass the Senate.
Trump ignored pleas to call off his supporters.
- Members of Congress, aides, and Ivanka Trump, the former President’s daughter, made pleas to Trump to call off the violence. Witnesses told the committee that Trump ignored the pleas repeatedly and reported that he wanted nothing to be done in response to the attack.
Updates from the most recent hearing
- The committee highlighted former President Donald Trump’s “complete dereliction of duty” as he ignored pleas to condemn the riot on Thursday.
- There are 187 minutes from Jan. 6 where Trump's exact whereabouts are unclear. Trump's actions between a speech to his supporters at 1:10 p.m. (EST) and his video at 4:17 p.m. (EST) asking them to return home were unknown. As there is not an official call log from the White House that afternoon, the hearing used witness testimony to piece together Trump’s movements on the afternoon of Jan. 6.
- White House officials and counsel testified that Trump did not make a call during the siege to the secretary of defense, the attorney general, or the secretary of Homeland Security.
- The committee noted two calls between Trump and Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer and ally, and several calls to Republican senators.
- The hearing focused on Trump watching television as chaos and violence unfolded in the Capitol. The committee played clips of the Fox News coverage of his supporters flooding the Capitol that Trump was watching as he tuned in from the dining room.
Do you think the Department of Justice should prosecute Trump?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo Credit: Tyler Merbler via Flickr / Creative Commons)
RELATED READING
- January 6th Committee Hearing Features Testimony From WH Counsel Pat Cipollone & Former Members of Extremist Groups (7/12/22)
- Select Committee Holds Hearings on Trump's Actions on January 6th, Efforts to Pressure State Election Officials & the Justice Dept. (6/28/22)
- January 6th Committee Hears Testimony On Trump's Election Fraud Claims, Pressure on Pence to Overturn Election Results (6/16/22)
- January 6th Committee Holds Public Hearing in Primetime (6/9/22)
- AG Garland Delivers Update on Criminal Prosecutions of January 6th Capitol Rioters (1/5/22)
- Select Committee Hears Testimony From Police Officers Who Defended Capitol During January 6th Riot (7/27/21)
- Speaker Pelosi Adds Adam Kinzinger to January 6th Select Committee (7/26/21)
- Pelosi Rejects Two of McCarthy’s Picks for January 6th Select Committee (7/21/21)
- McCarthy Announces GOP Picks for January 6th Select Committee (7/19/21)
- Pelosi Picks Democrats & Liz Cheney for January 6th Select Committee (7/1/21)
- Senate Committees Release Bipartisan Report Detailing Intelligence & Security Failures Related to January 6th Capitol Riot (6/8/21)
- Senate Republicans Block Bill to Establish Commission to Investigate January 6th Attack (5/28/21)
- House Passes Bill Establishing Independent Commission to Investigate January 6th Capitol Attack (5/19/21)
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My biggest takeaway from the hearings is that the trump, his co-conspirators and many of his enablers all need to be taken away. Taken far away and imprisoned.
It is both the responsibility and the obligation of the DOJ to indict anyone, no matter how wealthy, well connected they are and no matter whatever ‘high’ government office they held if there is compelling evidence that they likely committed crimes. Particularly for crimes committed in multiple attempts to use the powers entrusted to the President to overturn the will of the people to stage a political coup in successive failed attempts which ultimately led to many deaths and some homicides.
The DOJ has absolutely no authority to ‘go easy’ on a prior politician with their investigations or, if convicted, their sentencing recommendations out of fear of that their decisions might be seen as being political, or out of fear of the unrest that an empowered mob of trump acolytes might cause.
Only the current President is entrusted with the authority to temper sentencing if he, alone, feels that it is in the public interest to do so.
I want tRump indicted.
I want him convicted for election tampering, treason & witness tampering.
I want no other person wielding power in our government to attempt to overthrow our government ever again...no matter what side of the aisle.
I want Americans to realize how close we were to a Constitutional crisis that day and that the person responsible was the former president.
I want truth.
I want justice.
I want to believe that our government is not broken.
Donald just last night telling his crowd that he "won twice".
Yeah, losing by 8 million votes is certainly winning.
The Invalid "Jan 6 committee" investigation is a Marxist Show Trial All Patrotic Americians must denounce this fiction, and all Liars on the Committe. The Deep State is still pushing for vengance against Trump.This unconstitutional, illegal, unprecedented action to prevent Tr5ump Trump's 2024 run is evil.
Just thinking: What would have happened if the trump sctuslly went to the Capitol to lead the parade. His Secret Service proteftive detail would certdinly go with him. The trump supossedly said that he did not much care about what might happen to Pence because of his 'betrayal'. So just what would have happened if the trump, whike leading his acolytes through the Capitol with his Secret Service detail came across Pence and his Secret Service Detail moving Pence et al to a more secure location? I think that the Secret Sevice would be faced with quiet a conundrum.
While prosecution is important for those breaking laws, even more important are the changes for making sure this doesn't happen again, as the weakness of the system are now very apparent to everyone, and others will try to do the same thing.
A very important point was made Day 8 by Rep Kinzinger when questioning the Deputy National Security Administrator which is the national security risk turning a normal administration transition much less a troubled one like this one when hostile countries or actors may take action.
Take-always:
(1) Witnesses were Trump Administration or Republican State Officials that voted for Trump, would vote for him again, and tried to frame testimony by highlighting accomplishments
(2) Witnesses value their oath to support the constitution, country and rule of law over partisanship
(3) The election was not overturned due to the ethics of the many following the rules despite the efforts of the rule breakers
(4) Election & electoral process needs to be strengthened to prevent abuse & misuse
(5) While strengthening the electoral process, consider modernizing it to eliminate a lame duck administration between election & inauguration where an outgoing administration can change US policy before leaving (demonstrations & riots, removing troops from overseas, entering into new agreements & treaties, etc).
Day 1 : Compelling testimony (Bill Barr, Ivanka Trump, Capitol police) and video (Capitol security cameras, British documentary filmmaker, Nick Quested embedded in Proud Boys) laying out the plan of what the hearing plans to prove.
Day 2: A wide range of Trump Administration, campaign & election officials testified on how they tried to explain to Trump the election processing in various states to be disregarded in favor of a drunken Rudy Giuliani urging Trump to prematurely declare victory & election fraud.
Day 3: Speech video clips (Giuliani, Eastman) put in context of expert testimony (Jacobs, Luttig) along with memos (Carter, Cheseboro) put in perspective of text (constitution), structure (Constitution, 1887 Vote Count Act), and historical precedence (Adams, Jefferson, Nixon, Gore, 1885 commission, Congressional objections in 2004 forward) showing how historical precedence was being twisted (no historical precedence exists) to violate the constitution & 1887 Vote Count Act.
Day 4: Testimony from AZ & GA state legislative & election officials describing the phone calls, who called (White House Operator then putting Trump on the line then Trump turning it over to Giuliani and/or Eastman) to have state officials:
1) claiming election fraud
2) decertify legitimate electors & replace with state legislatures created electors
3) Congressional member involvement (AZ Rep Biggs call to AZ House Speaker Bower) & delivering certified copies of fake electors (WI Sen Johnson to VP Pence) and House Reps & Senators objecting to the vote count 1-6-21. Certified fake elector documents in the National Archives are now part of the evidence.
Day 5: Justice Department (Rosen, Engel, Donahue) efforts to resist Trump-Giuliani-East’s request to issue letters on election fraud to state officials, seize voting machines and when thus failed to replace Rosen with Clark aided by Rep Perry (PA).
Day 6: White House Chief of Staff Deputy (Hutchinson) testifies on arms & potential for violence of protestors before, during and after speech and still sending them to the Capitol, as well as DJT intent to go to Capitol and staff efforts to stop him.
Day 7: Former White House counsel Cipolline describes unscheduled meeting Trump had with Giuliani, Powell, Flynn to seize voting machines & appoint Powell as Special Council to investigate the election. Testimony from extremist groups on planning that start day after unschedule meeting, and participation in the riot and communications from Trump via Twitter, and coordination among militias before (email) and during (walkie-talkie).
Day 8: What Trump did or didn’t do during 188 minute, state of mind
https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-committee-hearing-schedule-155137852.html
https://www.causes.com/comments/16072
https://www.causes.com/comments/14158
While prosecution is important for those breaking laws, even more important are the changes for making sure this doesn't happen again as the weakness of the system are now very apparent to everyone, and others will try to do the same thing.
A very important point was made Day 8 by Rep Kinzinger when questioning the Deputy National Security Administrator which is the national security risk turning a normal administration transition much less a troubled one like this one when hostile countries ir actors may plan to take action.
Take-always:
(1) Witnesses were Trump Administration or Republican State Officials that voted for Trump, would vote for him again, and tried to frame testimony by highlighting accomplishments
(2) Witnesses value their oath to support the constitution, country and rule of law over partisanship
(3) The election was not overturned due to the ethics of the many following the rules despite the efforts of the rule breakers
(4) Election & electoral process needs to be strengthened to prevent abuse & misuse
(5) While strengthening the electoral process, consider modernizing it to eliminate a lame duck administration between election & inauguration where an outgoing administration can change US policy before leaving (demonstrations & riots, removing troops from overseas, entering into new agreements & treaties, etc).
Day 1 : Compelling testimony (Bill Barr, Ivanka Trump, Capitol police) and video (Capitol security cameras, British documentary filmmaker, Nick Quested embedded in Proud Boys) laying out the plan of what the hearing plans to prove.
Day 2: A wide range of Trump Administration, campaign & election officials testified on how they tried to explain to Trump the election processing in various states to be disregarded in favor of a drunken Rudy Giuliani urging Trump to prematurely declare victory & election fraud.
Day 3: Speech video clips (Giuliani, Eastman) put in context of expert testimony (Jacobs, Luttig) along with memos (Carter, Cheseboro) put in perspective of text (constitution), structure (Constitution, 1887 Vote Count Act), and historical precedence (Adams, Jefferson, Nixon, Gore, 1885 commission, Congressional objections in 2004 forward) showing how historical precedence was being twisted (no historical precedence exists) to violate the constitution & 1887 Vote Count Act.
Day 4: Testimony from AZ & GA state legislative & election officials describing the phone calls, who called (White House Operator then putting Trump on the line then Trump turning it over to Giuliani and/or Eastman) to have state officials:
1) claiming election fraud
2) decertify legitimate electors & replace with state legislatures created electors
3) Congressional member involvement (AZ Rep Biggs call to AZ House Speaker Bower) & delivering certified copies of fake electors (WI Sen Johnson to VP Pence) and House Reps & Senators objecting to the vote count 1-6-21. Certified fake elector documents in the National Archives are now part of the evidence.
Day 5: Justice Department (Rosen, Engel, Donahue) efforts to resist Trump-Giuliani-East’s request to issue letters on election fraud to state officials, seize voting machines and when thus failed to replace Rosen with Clark aided by Rep Perry (PA).
Day 6: White House Chief of Staff Deputy (Hutchinson) testifies on arms & potential for violence of protestors before, during and after speech and still sending them to the Capitol, as well as DJT intent to go to Capitol and staff efforts to stop him.
Day 7: Former White House counsel Cipolline describes unscheduled meeting Trump had with Giuliani, Powell, Flynn to seize voting machines & appoint Powell as Special Council to investigate the election. Testimony from extremist groups on planning that start day after unschedule meeting, and participation in the riot and communications from Trump via Twitter, and coordination among militias before (email) and during (walkie-talkie).
Day 8: What Trump did or didn’t do during 188 minute, state of mind
https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-committee-hearing-schedule-155137852.html
https://www.causes.com/comments/16072
https://www.causes.com/comments/14158
https://www.causes.com/comments/16001
https://www.causes.com/comments/14645
https://www.causes.com/comments/14294
https://www.causes.com/comments/15318
https://www.causes.com/comments/16001
https://www.causes.com/comments/14645
https://www.causes.com/comments/14294
https://www.causes.com/comments/15318
I want justice and accountability. I'm in no hurry for the DOJ to indict Donald; I want them to take their time and get an airtight case against all who were involved in planning and executing this fraud and sedition against our country.
Merrick Garland is an expert at building cases against domestic terrorists, and I want him to do his job right this time again.
This is the rhetoric the Dems want us to believe. They have omitted tons of live footage and testament because the TRUTH is too hard for them to bare.
These are the hard facts and the worst that “Trumpers“ were seen doing was a person ran and slammed into a police officer who fell over a wall. That was the worst yet “The People” are being accused of so much more.
Victoria White was beaten by the supervisor of the metro police. She was hit over 40 with a baton to her head and face. She survived the attack.
Matthew Perna was arrested and pled guilty to a felony charge after seeing what others were being charged. He later committed suicide.
Jake Lang was arrested and is still held in solitary confinement. He is being detained in pre-trial detention facility. The powers that be don’t want America to know the facts and are holding him hoping he will plead guilty.
Four Trump Supporters died that day.
Ashli Babbitt SHOT and was technically MURDERED by Lt. Michael Byrd. Ashli tried to stop ‘Zachary Alam’ who broke the window of the Capital. She asked the police officers to stop this person, to which no response. Video Evidence shows that she was NOT A TERRORIST. She actually was about 10’ from Officer Byrd who was basically let go. During the Internal Affairs investigation, Officer Byrd refused (which he had no right to withhold answers) to answer questions and said he would do so once he obtained an attorney.
Roseanne Boyland- died from alleged drug overdose from a drug she’s been taking for years. However the true cause may have been when police unleashed a chemical irritant, which displaces air, into the tunnel where Ms. Boyland couldn’t breathe and went unconscious as police officer Lila Morris was videotaped hitting Miss Boland two times in the head and one in the chest the video clearly shows intent to do bodily harm. The real hero was Luke Coffee who tried to save Ms. Boyland. The crowd was begging the police to help but no response; the crowd actually watched her die. The crowd became angry from the lack of response. The crowd eventually dragged her body out of the tunnel once they were able to do so safely. Officers were the villains NOT heroes. Luke Coffee was questioned and was told he wasn’t a suspect. However a few days later, he suddenly became a person of interest. Aa he turned himself in. They offered Mr. Coffee a pleas deal of 4-5 years to a felony charge.
Benjamin Phillips & Kevin Greeson who both had heart attacks likely brought on from the munitions used by the Capital police. Remember the munitions that were released displayed air and people couldn’t breathe.
A Defense Atty for the Oath Keepers believe this whole event was staged. Several actors, were observed working in teams of two and could have been tactical teams. The attorneys also requested to review the government’s face recognition software to help ID these actors in which the government is not cooperating.
MR. Ray Epp - who is Ray Epp? He is the one observed encouraging people to enter the Capital. He was also observed at various breach points.
The Oath Keepers are the center of the prosecution and actually were observed assisting the police. They were charged with seditious conspiracy when they were actually there to counter ANTIFA. None of these oath keepers were armed with weapons and they actually were protecting the police and helped guard the window that had been broken.
Bobby Powell actually warned people not to go into the capital and he is the one who videoed most of these suspicious actors (a.k.a. Feds).
Question?
Who is in charge of security?
Kash Patel who was the go-between for Trump and request for security. Security typically falls to law-enforcement so agencies such as FBI, DHS, the sergeant of arms for the house of the sergeant of arms for the Senate. The police went to the sergeant of arms and chief of police and requested more security however that was declined.
It is a two-step process:
The president has to authorize the use of National Guard and two the mayor should request federal law enforcement such as the National Guard to be deployed. On January 4 the president did give authorization for the National Guard but when it went to the mayor and the Capitol police declined the assistance of the national guard.
The FBI had this information prior to January 6th. Finally Pelosi and Schumer made the request but it was too late and they wanted to sure they were weapons of war. Capital police officers flagrantly violated the law and officers actually had a entrapped some of the protesters.
The real story is not the one being shown to the public. Protocols were not being followed the most serious acts of violence were on behalf of the capital police.
January 6 is being used politically it is being used to create new laws on domestic terrorism. A two-tier justice system is not justice. Look at the smash and grab, the violent protests across the county, etc. Crimes on both sides need to be treated equally which they currently are not.
The Justice Department should prosecute Trump with other legislative leaders that lied about the 2020 election, and or supported the 1-6-2021 insurredtion. As a voter in Indiana I want to know what role my Indiana representatives had in 1-6 insurrection.
Trump should thank his lucky stars, that he lives in the United States. In some countries he would have been publicly executed WAY before now.
No how was that his fault there using him as a scape goat
These hearings have failed to produce anything that supports criminal prosecution. These hearings have clearing been more about political grandstanding and trying to rehash the issue in an attempt to save democrats from midterm losses.
Former President Donald Trump’s comments casting doubt on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 9/11 terror attacks mark the latest in a string of recent public relations victories for the desert kingdom and its ruling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
in plain words
america and americans can be bought at a price therefore qualifies to be the MOST corrupt country in dollar terms
please refrain from pointing fingers at others!
shame on congress
shame on gop
shame on corporate america
shame on scotus
With the overwhelming evidence of Trump being behind the January 6th attacks, a decision not to prosecute him would be extremely dangerous.
a herd of ex whitehouse staff are now talking - some taking the 5th or not recollecting, some reluctantly some out of being cornered by a rare few forthcoming witnesses (cassidy)
where were these stalwarts of democracy when the crimes were being committed real time or spinning denials after the defeat and actively complicit in the lies and subversion with fake electors?
that many of these same characters continue to vehemently deny and simultaneously promote the same dumbkopf into office is a stunning testament to the total destruction of this 'democratic experiment'
the US has no standing, practically every major and minor potentate is thumbing their nose at us
what an achievement gop! pat yourselves on the back for such monumental achievements
appears too late to save this democracy ... maybe in another 200 years?
who needs enemies when you have geniuses like cruz gaetz rubio mccarthy cornyn cotton mcconnell mtg boebert abbot desantis gohmert pompeo mulvaney navarro giuliani even thomas & alito etc and their financiers bankrolling these criminals to do their bidding and yes righteous pence who could have easily stopped this whole parade but was literally too dumb to do so!
The whole Jan 6 show trial is a political ad for the Dems at taxpayer expense. Election results denial by both Dems and GOP has been common through the years. Shame on the DC court system for their onerous incarceration of misdemeanor protestors. Equal justice for all......I don't think so based upon lack of prosecution and incarceration for violent protestors in Minneapolis and Portland in 2020
This committee is a sham. All the Attorney/Congress persons should have their law licenses revoked. This committee is not a fair process or any wear close to being a legal process.
No one is above the law not even the president. democracy rules, not the individuals purpurting to represent democracy.
Trump must be prosecuted since there is a preponderance of evidence. If found guilty, he should be sentenced to jail. He is a traitor.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/27/2112862/-Trump-s-direct-role-in-attempted-overturn-under-increasing-scrutiny-by-DOJ-prosecutors-sources-say
Of course he should be prosecuted. He broke several laws. That's what we do in our country to protect our Democracy. We try and imprison the guilty that have been caught! Most especially known criminals at the top of the list!
Or if they choose not to, this will happen over and over and over again! Everyone I know HATES THIS! We have election rules, they are old and have worked very well until we started accepting known criminals into the running! If you want it all to stop you need to add a new rule, If you want to run for a seat in our government you must take a test on our Constitution, you know the thing that none of them have read. "I don't like to read", Donald Trump. Make sure that they pass it at 95% or above. What is there only job? They must raise their hand and swear, "To uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. You can't do that if you haven't read it!!!!!!! If you need more info on how to do that, let me know.
The Jan 6th Commission has effectively investigated Trump's Big Lie and what led to the terrorist attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The DOJ should pursue those responsible for the attack, including Trump, to show that nobody is above the law and to protect our democracy.
Evidently the far left (or their bots) is much interested in this site - don't believe 76% people believe Trump should be prosecuted – probably 76% think don’t care.
This hearing is a kangaroo court. Numerous examples of dispicable/illegal activity noted to promote a far left liberal ideology; they have to bow to the insane, totally disgusting. The left gets away with activity far worse than Jan.1st, but never mind, nothing behind the curtain.
At this point in time with all that has come out about Donald Trump and the Republican party leader ship, how they try to undermine this country and overthrow a duly elected presidency if you're still with this party you either have to be anti-American or an Illiterate idiot.
DOJ should move faster. If they wait closer to the elections the Trumpians will scream that the move is political.
Please don't let Trump get away with what he did to our democracy.