Trump 'chose not to act' as mob attacked, Jan. 6 committee says

The committee said he did nothing to stop the Capitol assault for 187 minutes.

Last Updated: July 21, 2022, 11:58 PM EDT

The House Jan. 6 committee's second prime-time hearing focused on what it said was then-President Donald Trump's "187 minutes" of inaction -- from the time he left the rally at the Ellipse, to then watching the attack on the U.S. Capitol on TV at the White House until he finally called on his violent supporters to go home.

Jul 21, 2022, 10:46 PM EDT

Cheney thanks witnesses for their testimony

In her closing statements, committee vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., acknowledged the testimony from dozens of Republican witnesses throughout its investigation.

"The case against Donald Trump in these hearings is not made by witnesses who were his political enemies," she said. "It was, instead, a series of confessions by Donald Trump's own appointees."

That included those who served Trump loyally for years and his own family members, she said.

Sarah Matthews, former deputy White House press secretary, testifies before the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
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She thanked the witnesses -- including ex-staffers Sarah Matthews, Matthew Pottinger and Cassidy Hutchinson -- for their bravery in speaking out publicly before millions of Americans.

"[Hutchinson] knew all along that she would be attacked by President Trump and by the 50-, 60- and 70-year-old men who hide themselves behind executive privilege," Cheney said.

Jul 21, 2022, 10:38 PM EDT

Trump's conduct on Jan. 6 a 'supreme violation' of his oath: Kinzinger

Rep. Adam Kinzinger said one area where all Americans must agree is on Trump's behavior on Jan. 6.

"Whatever your politics, whatever you think about the outcome of the election, we as Americans must all agree on this: Donald Trump's conduct on Jan. 6 was a supreme violation of his oath of office and a complete dereliction of his duty to our nation," the Illinois Republican said.

"It is a stain on our history," Kinzinger continued. "It is a dishonor to all those who have sacrificed and died in service our democracy."

Jul 21, 2022, 10:35 PM EDT

Trump in Jan. 7 statement outtakes: 'I don't want to say the election is over'

The House select committee shared never-before-seen raw footage of outtakes from former President Donald Trump's recorded message on Jan. 7, in which he "still could not say that the election was over," Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., said.

A video of former US President Donald Trump recording an address to the nation on January 7, 2021, is displayed on a screen during a hearing in Washington, July 21, 2022.
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"This election is now over. Congress has certified the results," Trump starts to say, then adding, "I don't want to say the election is over."

"I just want to say Congress has certified the results, without saying the election is over, OK?" he continues.

Trump had refused to record the address for hours, Luria said, but ultimately relented "because of concerns that he might be removed from power by threats of the 25th Amendment."

The 25th Amendment lays out the procedures for replacing the president in the event of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation.

Jul 21, 2022, 10:11 PM EDT

Panel airs new footage of urgent call between congressional leaders, defense secretary

Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., introduced what she called "never-before-seen" photos and videos of what lawmakers were doing during the attack.

Congressional leaders called then-acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller at 4:45 p.m. that day to regain control of the Capitol.

"We're not going to let these people keep us from finishing our business," GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell can be heard saying in a huddle of lawmakers. "So, we need you to get the building cleared, give us the okay so that we can go back in session and finish the peoples' business as soon as possible."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., then asked Miller if he agreed with one assessment that it was going to take "several days" to secure the area. Miller disagreed, stating it would take four to five hours.

At one point, Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Steny Hoyer grouped together taking a phone call about securing the Capitol.

PHOTO: A video of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer taking a phone call, is shown during a hearing to investigate the January 6th attack in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2022.
A video of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer taking a phone call about securing the US Capitol, is displayed on a screen during a hearing by the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2022.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

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