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.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT HEARING:

TO BE ANNOUNCED

In Case You Missed It: 

• Rep. Kinzinger appeared on Good Morning America to break down last night’s hearing
• Rep. Kinzinger appeared on "Face the Nation” to discuss Thursday’s hearing, the subpoenaed Secret Service texts, and who else could potentially appear in subsequent depositions
• Rep. Kinzinger appeared on CNN to discuss the former President’s dereliction of duty

Who Gave Testimony:

• Matthew Pottinger, former Trump White House Aide
• Sarah Matthews, former Trump White House Aide

Here are the major developments from the committee: 

Congressman Kinzinger Calls Trump’s Inaction a "Dereliction of Duty"

In his closing statement, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) had strong words for the former President, calling his 187 minutes of inaction a "complete dereliction of his duty to our nation."

Congressman Kinzinger’s response came after a 2-hour hearing focused on the former President's purposeful decision to watch TV in the dining room while the Capitol and the Constitution of the United States were attacked. 

The ninth and final hearing of the summer came to an explosive close as Kinzinger laid into the former President and those that still refuse to acknowledge the tragedy of January 6th. He also reminded the American people of the importance of public servants dedicated to the rule of law and the Constitution saying, "laws are just words on paper. They mean nothing without public servants dedicated to the rule of law."

Steve Bannon Convicted by Jury of Contempt, Faces Up to Two Years in Prison

A Washington, D.C., jury found former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon guilty of contempt of Congress Friday over his failure to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 committee, which could result in up to a two-year prison sentence following a brief trial in which prosecutors argued that Bannon “chose allegiance to Donald Trump over compliance with the law.”

The jury deliberated for less than three hours after closing arguments Friday, and a guilty verdict was widely anticipated after Bannon’s legal team did not call any witnesses in his defense.

Bannon was found guilty on two contempt counts: one count for failing to turn over records to the committee and the other for never showing up to testify.

Each count carries a minimum prison sentence of 30 days and a maximum of a year behind bars. Bannon is expected to appeal.

Former White House Aide Resigned After January 6th

Sarah Matthews, one of the witnesses who testified, was the Deputy White House Press Secretary who worked alongside Kayleigh McEnany. She previously worked on Trump’s campaign and knew from this experience that his supporters took his words very seriously. Therefore, when Trump tweeted that Mike Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done," even as rioters were storming the Capitol, she became very concerned. 

"It was essentially him giving the green light to these people, telling them that what they were doing at the steps of the Capitol and entering the Capitol was okay," she testified. 

A few minutes later, Trump tweeted, "support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement" as well as the phrase "Stay peaceful!" Matthews, however, felt it wasn’t strong enough. McEnany then told her that Trump did not want to communicate to his supporters to be peaceful and stop the rioting in any way; Ivanka Trump was the one who suggested that he insert the phrase "stay peaceful," which he accepted after much back and forth discussion. 

Things came to a head when Trump released a video saying "we love you" to the rioters, and calling them "very special." Matthews said it was at that point that she made her decision to resign. 

"As a spokesperson for him, I knew that I would be asked to defend that. I knew that I would be resigning that evening," she said. "January 6th, 2021, was one of the darkest days in our nation's history," she reflected.

Donald Trump Did Not Want to Say the Election Was Over or Condemn the Violence

The Committee played raw video showing Trump’s refusal to say that the election was over. The script prepared for him by staff originally said, "But this election is now over…" And as he read the script, he wanted this line taken out. 

"I don't want to say the election is over," he said, showing his unwillingness to communicate his acceptance of the results. 

Not only was he unwilling to say the election was over, he had a difficult time condemning the mob. He was visibly frustrated, when the script read, "You broke the law," in reference to the rioters. 

"You can’t say that," he insisted. "I’m not gonna — I already said 'you will pay.'"

Trump Felt “Let Down” by Former Vice President

"Mike Pence let me down." That’s what former President Trump uttered to one of former Vice President Pence’s staffers on the evening of January 6th. Those were the only words the former President had for his Vice President after a coup attempt, chants of “Hang Mike Pence,” and mob violence. Instead of condemning the attempted insurrection or offering support to his second-in-command, the former President of the United States said nothing. 

After watching the violence unfold from the dining room of the West Wing, Trump refused to tell the rioters, many of which were threatening the life of the former Vice President and other Members of Congress, to go home. Instead, despite the pleas of many of his own family and staff, the former President sat in the dining room for 187 minutes, or more than 3 hours. 

Josh Hawley Seen Running From Same Mob He Encouraged

In new video released by the 1/6 Committee, Senator Josh Hawley can be seen running from the violent mob that descended on the United States Capitol. Earlier, Hawley (R-MO), had been photographed raising a fist in support of the crowd that had already started to gather outside the Capitol. Hawley has since used the infamous picture to fundraise for his re-election campaign. 

As the violence increased and the rioters breached the Capitol building, Members of Congress were evacuated from the chambers. In two new videos released, Hawley can be seen running away from the mob to safety with his other colleagues. Instead of supporting the rioters, like he had when they were still behind the security barriers, Hawley felt the need to run. An audible laugh could be heard in the hearing room on Thursday night. 

Pence Secret Service Agents Heard Telling Their Loved Ones Goodbye in New Audio

The 1/6 Committee played new audio of members of former Vice President Pence’s security detail making calls to their loved ones. In the harrowing account given by an unidentified national security professional, members of Pence’s own Secret Service detail were calling their family members, telling them goodbye, as the Capitol was breached. After being evacuated, members of Pence’s security detail were concerned about being able to safely remove the Vice President, even worrying a lethal battle to exit the Capitol could be necessary.

"It was disturbing. I don't like talking about it," the unidentified witness recalled, "but there were calls to say goodbye to family members and so forth. It was getting – for whatever the reason was on the ground, the VP detail thought that this was about to get very ugly." 

Former President Made No Calls to Law Enforcement or Pentagon to Quell the Violence

Early reporting following the attack on the United States Capitol questioned why the National Guard was not called into the Capitol following the attack. Later, the former President and his allies spread a lie that he did call in the National Guard, but it was refused by Speaker Pelosi. 

In last night’s testimony, General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, refuted that claim: "You’re the commander in chief — you’ve got an assault going on at the Capitol of the United States of America and there’s nothing? No call? Nothing? Zero?"

Poking holes in former President Trump’s claims that he did call in the National Guard, General Milley was dismayed at the Commander in Chief’s refusal to command the United States military to stop the violence at the Capitol. Instead, the former President sat in a dining room and just watched. 

Other News that May Be of Interest

• More hearings to come in the fall, committee says
• Vice Chairwoman Cheney reminds Americans of the history made in the hearing room
• House GOP slammed for Tweet calling their own staffer a “liar and pawn”President.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT HEARING:

TO BE ANNOUNCED