Monday’s meeting deepens what he calls the “big lie,” Trump’s false allegations of vote-rigging that fueled his relentless quest to overthrow the 2020 election and led a mob of supporters to besiege the US Capitol. The panel is set to hear the testimony of Chris Stirewalt, a former Fox News political columnist closely involved in the night-time coverage of the election, who ruled that Arizona should be declared a Biden winner. In the following weeks, Fox aired several allegations of electoral fraud by Trump’s deputies, including lawyer Rudy Guiliani. Stirewalt, in an essay published in The Dispatch early Monday on why he testified, said the stakes in the hearing were significant. “What Trump and his gang did in the 2020 election and its aftermath is a great historical moment for our country, far greater than the Watergate scandal we are still discussing 50 years later,” he wrote.
Last minute cancellation
The first group of witnesses allegedly included Trump’s former campaign director, Bill Stepien, who before that role had spent several years as an influential Fox News executive. But the committee said Monday morning that due to a family emergency, Stepien will not appear, delaying the start of the hearing at least until 10:30 a.m. Stepien’s scheduled appearance was not voluntary, as he had been summoned by the committee. The commission said Stepien’s lawyer would appear and make a statement on the file. CLOCKS Trump claims he “influenced a lot of people,” says his former attorney general.
The testimony of Ivanka Trump and William Barr was broadcast at the Capitol hearings on the riots
The U.S. congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riots began its televised hearings Thursday with a video interview with former Attorney General Bill Barr, who testified that he told Donald Trump that his allegations of electoral fraud it was “bullshit”. The panel also showed testimony from Ivanka Trump. A second group of witnesses to testify Monday will include election officials, investigators and experts who are likely to discuss Trump’s response to the election, including dozens of failed lawsuits, and how his actions differed from US standards. Among them is former U.S. attorney in Atlanta BJ Pak, who resigned from the Justice Department after being tasked by the Trump administration to find examples of electoral fraud in Georgia that did not exist. The panel will also hear former Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt, a Republican who faced criticism as Biden was called to the Pennsylvania election. and noted by Washington attorney and election attorney Benjamin Ginsberg. Monday’s hearing will also focus on the millions of dollars raised by Trump’s team to raise funds before Jan. 6, according to an aide to the committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details with the Associated Press.
First of the 3 hearings this week
The commission, which is investigating the attack in early 2021 last year, warned that Trump’s attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory was a serious threat and a precedent for future US elections. The commission does not have the power to prosecute, but it could increase pressure on the Ministry of Justice if it provides compelling evidence that crimes have been committed. No president or former president has ever been charged. Attorney General Merrick Garland has not said whether he would be willing to prosecute. As 6:14 Jan. 6 hear a reminder of how “extreme” the majority of Republicans have become, says one party member While many Republicans have rejected the Jan. 6 hearings, others like Gunner Ramer hope it’s a moment of reflection for the party. Ramer is the political director of the Republican Accountability Project, a Republican-backed group that fights misinformation and advocates for democracy. Trump, giving all indications that he is preparing another presidential candidacy, said last week that January 6 “represents the largest movement in the history of our country.” More than 800 people have been arrested for the siege and members of two extremist groups have been charged with rare insurgency charges for their role in leading the attack. Among those killed at the Capitol that day was a Trump supporter who was shot dead as part of a large group trying to break into the Capitol. Additional evidence is set to be released at a hearing this week focusing on Trump’s decision to ignore the election results and the court cases that convicted him. Hearings are scheduled for Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon.
