1/6 Committee Weekly Digest

Country First presents the next edition of The Weekly Digest to highlight the important work of the January 6th Select Committee. Each week that the committee makes news, we’ll provide a recap on the its work to make sure you’re up to date.

In Case You Missed It: 

• Rep. Kinzinger speaks out on Mark Meadows testimony to the 1/6 Committee
• Rep. Kinzinger gives an impassioned speech on the House Floor to hold Navarro and Scavino in contempt of Congress
• Rep. Kinzinger gives his opening remarks to the 1/6 Committee hearing

Here are the major developments from this past week: 

House Votes to Hold Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino in Contempt of Congress

The United States House of Representatives voted along party lines, minus Congressman Adam Kinzinger and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, to hold former Trump aides, Dan Scanvino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress after they evaded subpoenas issued by the 1/6 Committee. In a 220-203 vote, the House voted to refer the former trade advisor and deputy chief of staff to the former President to the Department of Justice to be charged with criminal contempt of Congress.

The referral from Congress comes after months of rescheduling depositions and attempts made by the 1/6 Committee to speak with the aides. Before the vote, a heated debate ensued on the House Floor, with the majority of Republicans reaching for words like "witch hunt" and "show trial" while the 1/6 Committee members argued for accountability. Criminal contempt charges carry a sentence of up to one year in prison and up to $1,000 in fines. 

1/6 Defendant Argues Former President "Authorized" Deadly Attack on the Capitol

On Wednesday, Dustin Thompson, an alleged 1/6 rioter described his thought process while breaching the U.S. Capitol building. According to Thompson and his lawyer, Thompson believed that he was acting on the will of the former President while attending the rally-turned-insurrection in Washington, DC on January 6th. 

During his testimony, Thompson outlined the isolation he felt following the loss of his job during the coronavirus pandemic that caused him to go "down the rabbit hole" into QAnon-type conspiracy theories. He pointed out the multitude of speakers at the “Stop the Steal” rally that took place mere hours before the attack on the Capitol building.

Thompson, under oath, testified that, "Besides being ordered by the President to go to the Capitol" he was, "caught up in the moment."

Thompson is the third rioter to go before a jury for his role in the attempted coup. 

Former President’s Daughter Sits With 1/6 Committee for Hours

Ivanka Trump, the former first daughter and top White House official, sat with the 1/6 Committee on April 5th to discuss the events that occurred before, during, and after the brutal attack of the U.S. Capitol. Her testimony comes just days after her husband and former top White House official, Jared Kushner, answered questions that proved "helpful" to the committee’s investigation. 

According to sources familiar with the committee, Ms. Trump spoke with committee members about her and her father’s whereabouts and thought processes from the time leading up to the attack and throughout the assault.

According to Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the former first daughter and top aide did not assert any sort of privilege and answered questions the committee asked, though not divulging the depth of her answers. Although the contents of the committee's questions or her answers were not revealed, the committee’s progress towards the former President’s most inner and influential circle. 

Federal Judge Rules that Trump "More Likely Than Not" Committed a Crime in Attempt to Overturn the 2020 Election

Delivering yet another devastating blow to the former President’s attempt to decertify the 2020 election, Judge David Carter, a federal judge in California asserted on March 28th that the former President probably broke the law. The federal judge wrote that "based on the evidence, the Court finds it more likely than not that President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021," and ordered Trump attorney, John Eastman, to turn over more than 100 emails to the 1/6 Committee. 

Carter’s reasoning pointed to the former President’s continual attempts to undermine the democratic process of certifying a federal election, including the insurrection that took place after his speech on January 6th, as reasoning for his assertion. 

Judge Carter’s ruling is part of a civil suit involving the Trump camp’s attempt to evade the 1/6 Committee's request for documents pertaining to the attack at the Capitol. 

Proud Boy, Charles Donohoe, Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Agrees to Cooperate with DOJ

A leader of the far-right group Proud Boys has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy in connection with the coup attempt on the U.S. Capitol. As a part of his deal, the conspiracy theorist agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice investigation into the events that unfolded on January 6th. Donahue, a member of the North Carolina chapter called the Ministry of Self Defense, was aware of the threat of violence on January 6th as early as January 4th. According to court filings, Donahue believed that "storming the Capitol would achieve the group's goal of stopping the government from carrying out the transfer of presidential power." The goal of the event was to interfere and prevent the counting of the electoral college votes, a traditionally symbolic event. 

Donahue along with six other high-profile Proud Boy members have been charged with conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer among other offenses. The other charges have been dropped against Donahue in exchange for his cooperation. 

Donahue and his co-defendants Henry Enrique Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, were among some of the first to breach the Capitol building on January 6th. 

Revealing Documents Show Plan to Occupy the Capitol Building and Supreme Court Building on January 6th 

Prosecutors in Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's case accusing him of conspiracy, among other charges, have revealed a more elaborate plan to overtake and undermine the United States government by occupying the entire Capitol complex.

In a nine-page manifesto of sorts, the "1776 returns" plan outlined the direct action to take six congressional office buildings hostage and demand a new election in the streets of Washington, DC.

Although the plan doesn’t directly call for storming the U.S. Capitol building, the two-pronged manifesto describes "storm[ing] the winter palace" as one of the prongs. After, the "patriot plan" was set to be installed, flooding the streets with "patriots" to demand a new election on January 20th. 

It is unknown how many members of the far-right militia, the Proud Boys, the document had been distributed to, but it could shed light on the frame of mind many of them were in on January 6th.

Tarrio is accused of planning, encouraging, and inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol in an effort to reinstall Trump as the President.

Other news that may be of interest: 

• Ex-Trump advisor, Stephen Miller, set to speak with 1/6 Committee on April 14th 
• 1/6 Committee looks to May for public hearings
• 1/6 Committee set to receive new Trump White House documents
• Ex-Trump advisor, Roger Stone, allegedly tells supporters to "descend on the Capitol" in revealing phone call 
• Over 800 people have been charged in connection with 1/6 insurrection