Jan. 6 updates: Biden tears into Trump for inciting Capitol attack

Speaking at the Capitol, Biden slammed Trump for "spreading a web of lies."

Thursday marks one year since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Democrats observed the anniversary with somber tributes at the building that's the symbol of American democracy.

Homegrown: Standoff to Rebellion
Homegrown: Standoff to Rebellion
A look at the days, events and conversations leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, from the eyes of anti-government groups, extremism experts and several ABC News correspondents who were at the Capitol that day.
Stream On Hulu

The events in Washington included a panel discussion with historians, firsthand testimonies from lawmakers and a prayer vigil on the Capitol steps.

From Statuary Hall, which rioters stormed last year, President Joe Biden gave his most forceful rebuke of former President Donald Trump to date -- without calling him by name -- blaming him for the violence that erupted at the Capitol after he refused to accept a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in American history. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, were the only Republicans present in the House chamber for a moment of silence led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

ABC News Live will provide all-day coverage of Thursday's events at the Capitol and examine the continuing fallout for American democracy one year since the Jan. 6 siege.


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By the numbers: Day of the insurrection

Five people died during or after the riot, including four protesters and one law enforcement officer. Separately, four officers who responded to the riot have died by suicide.

Approximately 140 police officers were injured the day at the Capitol including about 80 U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department, according to the Justice Department. Lawmakers on Thursday praised the group for holding the line and protecting the Capitol from even more bloodshed last year.

Approximately $1.5 million in damage was done to the Capitol building, according to federal prosecutors.

"Well over 10,000" people came onto the Capitol grounds last year, according to Capitol Police, and at least 2,000 people actually entered the building. At least 706 individuals have been charged with crimes, according to an ABC News count, and approximately 150 individuals have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin, Alexander Mallin and Will Steakin


Officer Sicknick’s parents recognized for son’s sacrifice

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured while confronting the mob during the insurrection, suffered multiple strokes hours after serving on the front lines and died, was recognized several times by lawmakers on Thursday.

While leading members of Congress in sharing their reflections, Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., called attention to Sicknick’s parents who were present in the caucus room, asking them to stand and be recognized.

"For those of you joining us at home, Brian Sicknick was an officer who gave his life on Jan. 6, 2021, in defense of this Capitol and in defense of many of us," Crow said.

"We sit in here and owe your family a debt of gratitude that we can never repay," Crow told his parents. "We will be there for you and your family going forward, and you are now a part of our family as well."


Lawmakers reflect on Capitol attack

In a large House caucus room, Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. -- a decorated Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran who helped barricade the House chamber on Jan. 6 and defend the lives of his colleagues -- led members in sharing their reflections on the insurrection.

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., argued the importance of agreeing about the truth of that day and pulled out a piece of glass he said he picked up from a broken window in the Capitol in the aftermath of Jan. 6 that he carries in his pocket each day.

"Truth is clear as this shard of broken glass that I have carried with me the last 365 days… as a reminder -- a constant reminder -- in my pocket of the brutality of that day," he said. "Only truth and accountability will give us the opportunity to find a path toward reconciliation. Only truth will begin to thaw the bitterness that characterizes our current divisions."

Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., who is running against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for Senate, called out lawmakers who have whitewashed the day and "forgotten their oath," she said, "overshadowed by their quest for power and their pathetic fear of election officials counting every vote."

"Many people call themselves patriots. But true patriots don't lie. They don't steal. They don't cheat," she said, taking the chance to thank law enforcement officers as the former police chief in Orlando. "But out of the ashes, good things can rise."


Historians commemorate Jan. 6 in panel discussion

In a panel discussion moderated by Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, historians John Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin addressed the significance of the anniversary of the attack and the importance of sharing a common truth about the events of the day instead of whitewashing what happened.

"This is about our future and all of us have a responsibility to remember that a more perfect union is about we the people, not a singular person," Meacham said.

He echoed Biden in calling the moment Americans face now "an inflection point" and said the founders would “want us to defend their experiment."

"In my lifetime this is the hardest moment for democracy," Goodwin added. "We have to recognize how deep that challenge is and not to sugar coat it, as Lincoln would say... but I think it can come back again."

The panel got some help at the top from the cast of the Broadway hit "Hamilton" -- which explores the foundations of American democracy and George Washington's choice to surrender power after two terms.

"You're all stewards of the American experiment," creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said in a pre-recorded video, before the cast sang, via Zoom, the song "Dear Theodosia" from the musical.

-ABC News Benjamin Siegel


Pelosi holds moment of silence to mark violent attack

Ahead of calling for a moment of silence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the attack last year and highlighted the "courage and patriotism" of the law enforcement officers she said served as "defenders of our democracy."

"Because of them, Congress was able to defeat the insurrection -- to return to the Capitol that same night to ensure that the peaceful transfer of power took place. Because of them and our members, the insurrection failed," she said. "As we reflect on that darkest day, we remember that the insurrection sought not only to attack the building, but to undermine democracy itself."

"When the violent assault was made on the Capitol, its purpose was to thwart Congress's constitutional duty to validate the electoral count and to ensure the peaceful transfer of power -- but the assault did not deter us from our duty," Pelosi added, going on to call the Capitol, a "symbol of democracy to the world."

Before leading the chamber -- and all those watching -- in a moment of silence, Pelosi named those officers who died during or after the Capitol assault, and asked members to "rise for a moment of silence in their memory."

While dozens of Democrats were present, Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., were apparently the lone Republicans in the House chamber for the moment of silence on Jan. 6.