'Our democracy remains in danger': Opening statement excerpt
Chairman Bennie Thompson will warn the American public of the ongoing threat from "those in this country who thirst for power" when the Jan. 6 committee soon kicks off a series of public hearings laying out its investigation, according to an opening statement released by the committee.
"So tonight, and over the next few weeks, we're going to remind you of the reality of what happened that day. But our work must do much more than just look backwards. Because our democracy remains in danger," Thompson is expected to say. "The conspiracy to thwart the will of the people is not over."
![PHOTO: Chairman Bennie Thompson, center, flanked by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, left, and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, makes a statement as the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol convenes in Washington, March 28, 2022.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/jan6-committee-ap-ps-220609_1654785869263_hpMain.jpg)
"January 6th and the lies that led to insurrection have put two and a half centuries of constitutional democracy at risk. The world is watching what we do here," read the excerpt.