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.

ByAlexandra Hutzler and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: July 22, 2022, 1:33 AM 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.

Here is how the hearing unfolded:

Jul 21, 2022, 5:53 PM EDT

Former White House staffers to testify about resigning in protest

Two former White House aides are expected to testify before the committee on Thursday, sources previously confirmed to ABC News.

Those ex-staffers are Sarah Matthews, who served as deputy press secretary, and Matthew Pottinger, who was deputy national security adviser. Both resigned from their positions after the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Matthew Pottinger, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor listens during a briefing with members of President Trump's Coronavirus task force in the briefing room at the White House, Jan 31, 2020.
The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE

At the committee's June 16 hearing, a clip from Matthews' prior testimony was played in which she described what it was like on the White House press team as the insurrection unfolded. She said that Trump's tweet attacking then-Vice President Mike Pence during the attack "felt like he was pouring gasoline on the fire."

Sarah Matthews, White House deputy press secretary, listens during a news conference at the White House in Washington, July 8, 2020.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Related Topics