Last year’s disturbance at the Capitol was described by Donald Trump as a “attempted coup.”
According to a congressional investigation, the previous president had a key role in attempting to forcefully prevent a democratic election from taking place.
‘Democracy remains in jeopardy,’ said Congressman Bennie Thompson, the panel’s chairman, during the hearing.
Thousands of ardent followers – including members of far-right militias – nearly completely overran the building where legislators were convening to confirm the results after listening to him give a speech.
Many threatened to kill officials inside, including Vice President Mike Pence, as a large mob, some armed, made its way through police lines.
According to one account, Mr Trump stated his former number two ‘deserves it’ as supporters screamed that Mr Pence should be hanged.
As they fought to keep control of the Washington DC monument, five individuals died and more than 130 police officers were injured, several of them critically.
‘President Trump summoned a violent mob,’ stated Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
‘We’re in a moment of extreme risk for our republic when a president fails to take the steps necessary to maintain our union – or worse, produces a constitutional crisis.’
At the session, new footage of the deadly violence was shown for 12 minutes, as well as evidence from Mr Trump’s inner circle.
It featured a footage of Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, claiming she agreed with former Attorney General Bill Barr that charges that the election was rigged were incorrect.
Other clips showed members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extreme groups prepared to storm the Capitol to defend Mr Trump.
For their roles in the attempted insurgency, the leaders of both groups have been charged with’seditious conspiracy.’
Caroline Edwards, a Capitol Police officer, testified about the severe brain injury she had after being attacked by members of the Proud Boys and others.
‘They were throwing up – I saw friends with blood all over their faces,’ she recalled of the events at the Capitol.
‘I was slipping in people’s blood,’ says the narrator. As they fell, I was catching them. It was a bloodbath. It was a complete disaster.’
‘Democracy remains in jeopardy,’ said Congressman Bennie Thompson, the panel’s chairman, during the hearing.
‘January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup, a brazen attempt to overthrow the government, as one rioter put it shortly thereafter.’ The brutality was not unintentional.’
Mr Trump has remained unapologetically unapologetic about his part in inciting the mob, and he is expected to be the Republican Party’s nominee in 2024.
In a statement, he disregarded the hearing, saying that January 6 “marked the biggest movement in our country’s history.”