1/6 Committee Digest

Country First presents the next edition of The Digest to highlight the important work of the 1/6 Committee. Our aim is to make this available to our members within 24 hours after each hearing.

In Case You Missed It: 

• Rep. Kinzinger Speaks to CBS about the first 1/6 hearing

Who Gave Testimony Yesterday:

• Officer Caroline Edwards: Capitol Police Officer injured by insurrectionists on 1/6
• Nick Quested: Documentary filmmaker following the Proud Boys

Here are the major developments from the committee: 

"Stand Back and Stand By" Comments Made By the Former President Dramatically Increased Proud Boys Membership

"It tripled, probably." Those were the words of a high-profile member of the Proud Boys, Jeremy Bertino, giving testimony about membership for the alt-right white supremacist group after the former President refused to condemn them. Instead, his infamous "stand back and stand by" comments dramatically increased the group's membership. First revealed during the first primetime hearing of the 1/6 Committee's investigation into the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Bertino also admitted that the infamous words of a then-President was a watershed moment for the group. 

Bertino, when asked if he sold merchandise with the words of the former President, admitted that another vendor on his page beat him to it, but he wished he would have made a "stand back, stand by" t-shirt. Bertino was the subject of an FBI search earlier this year, but has not been arrested. Several members of the Proud Boys have been charged in connection to 1/6 and five others have been charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. 

Multiple GOP Members Called the Former President Asking For Pardons After 1/6 

In the primetime hearing, never before seen video and testimony was given, shocking a nation once again, including the opening remarks from vice-chair of the panel, Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY). In the Congresswoman’s opening remarks, Cheney said that Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) was among "multiple other Republican congressmen" who sought presidential pardons for their roles in the attempted coup against the United States. The statement made by the Wyoming Congresswoman had Democratic members, many of whom sat in on the hearings, asking which of their fellow colleagues sought a pardon. 

Although no names have been released by the 1/6 Committee yet, they did subpoena GOP lawmakers Andy Biggs and Mo Brooks in May of this year.

Former President Believed Former Vice President Pence “Deserved” to be Hanged

Gallows were erected on the U.S. Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021, with a noose prepared, seemingly, for the execution of the mob's enemies.  As the crowd learned that Mike Pence planned to certify the election, it became more aggressive and began to chant "Hang Mike Pence." Instead of quelling the violence, the former President yelled at staff and refused to make any sort of statement. 

Vice-chair Cheney said in her opening statement, "You will hear that President Trump was yelling and, quote, 'really angry' at advisers who told him he needed to be doing something more" to stop the riot. Cheney continued, "And, aware of the rioters' chants to 'hang Mike Pence,' the president responded with this sentiment: quote, 'Maybe our supporters have the right idea,' Mike Pence, quote, 'deserves it'." 

The 1/6 Committee plans to hold hearings throughout June, in which they plan to share more about the former President’s lack of response and incitement of violence. 

Cheney Outlines "Seven Part Plan" to Attack the United States Capitol

The former President had a seven-part sophisticated plan to overturn the election, said Congresswoman Liz Cheney, vice-chair of the 1/6 Committee. The plan included:

1. Spreading false elections claims;
2. Planning to replace the Attorney General;
3. Pressuring Vice President Pence to decertify the election;
4. Pressuring state officials to install a new slate of electors;
5. Instructing states to create a false slate of electors and submit the fraudulent slate to the US Congress and the National Archives;
6. Summoning multiple far-right groups and even white supremacists to the US Capitol; and
7. Refusing to call in the National Guard or any other law enforcement to protect or stop the attack. 

The 1/6 Committee outlined the Former President’s plan to remain in power after 2020’s free and fair election. Despite pursuing all legal challenges, the former President was never delivered the results he wanted, causing the seven-part plan to be enacted. The 1/6 Committee outlined its plan to unravel the web of lies that brought about the attempted coup. 

Former Attorney General Barr Called "Bull****" on Trump’s Fraud Claims

Testimony given by the former President’s closest allies, including Jason Miller, former Attorney General William Barr, and even the President’s own daughter, Ivanka Trump, revealed they had no reason to believe the election was stolen.

Instead, the former Attorney General, William Barr, said he saw "absolutely zero basis for the allegations," and that they were "nonsense" and "bull****." Further, former senior White House Advisor, Ivanka Trump said that Barr's assessment of no election fraud, "affected my perspective" and that she "accepted what he was saying."

Many of the former President’s closest advisors agreed: No voter fraud existed. However, the former President did not accept their counsel. Instead, after months of being advised against pursuing election fraud claims, the former President held a rally outside the White House on January 6th. Many in attendance then marched from the White House to the Capitol and violently attacked in an attempt to disrupt the counting of the electoral votes. 

Vice President Pence, not President Trump, Wanted the Military’s Help at the U.S. Capitol

In new testimony, recorded by the 1/6 Committee and released on Thursday, General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified that the Former Vice President was asking for help, not the former President. General Milley said Vice President Pence "issued a very explicit, very direct, unambiguous order… 'get the Guard down here, put down this situation.'"

Instead of acting on the Vice President's directions, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was more concerned with the narrative, wanting the public to believe the President was still in charge. General Milley called it, "a red flag for me personally."

According to 1/6 Committee vice-chair Liz Cheney, "President Trump gave no order to deploy the National Guard that day. And he made no effort with the Department of Justice to coordinate and deploy law enforcement assets."

Cheney went on to affirm the testimony made by General Milley, that Vice President Pence was the top official trying to involve the National Guard. 

Harrowing Testimony From Capitol Police Officer Shows Violent Mob Assaulting Officers

Caroline Edwards, a U.S. Capitol Police Officer, described the scene on January 6, 2021 as "carnage."

In graphic testimony given on Thursday, June 9th, Edwards laid out her experience, from being knocked unconscious to re-engaging with insurrectionists after coming to again. Edwards’ testimony was accompanied by never-before-seen footage, including the exact moment she was overpowered by the violent mob and thrown onto the ground, hitting her head and sustaining a concussion. Despite her injuries, she came to and continued to hold the line into the U.S. Capitol Building.

"My literal blood, sweat, and tears were shed in defending the building I spent countless holidays and weekends working in," Edwards said.

Edwards also spoke of her colleague, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brain Sicknick, recalling the moment he went "ghostly pale." Sicknick was injured while holding the line to the Capitol Building and suffered a stroke. Unfortunately, Officer Sicknick died the following day. Members of his family were in attendance at the hearing. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT HEARING:

MONDAY, JUNE 13 AT 10 AM ET