Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), vice chairwoman of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, alleged on Thursday that former President Donald Trump “assembled the mob” that “attack[ed]” the Capitol last year. The Republican congresswoman also turned on other members of her own party, accusing them of “dishonor” for supposedly “defending the indefensible.”
The U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol held its first of six congressional hearings on the Capitol riot on Thursday evening, airing the examinations on prime-time television.
“On this point, there is no room for debate,” she continued. “Those who invaded our Capitol and battled law enforcement for hours were motivated by what President Trump had told them: That the election was stolen, and that he was the rightful president. President Trump summoned the mob, assembled the mob and lit the flame of this attack.”
Cheney asserted that former President Trump’s plan was “to remain president of the United States” on the morning of Jan. 6.
“The White House staff knew that President Trump was willing to entertain and use conspiracy theories to achieve his ends. They knew the president needed to be cut off from all of those who had encouraged him. They knew that President Donald Trump was too dangerous to be left alone, at least until he left office on Jan. 20,” Cheney said.
“Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone but your dishonor will remain,” she added.
During the hearing, Cheney also read a tweet written by Trump at the time of the breach, but left out the last line which stated, “Go home with love and in peace.”
On Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he did not incite the breach at the Capitol on Jan. 6, arguing that it was caused by the confusion of the 2020 presidential election.
“The so-called ‘Rush on the Capitol’ was not caused by me, it was caused by a Rigged and Stolen Election!” Trump wrote.
Trump also accused the “one-sided, totally partisan” committee of engaging in a “political witch hunt.”
“Many people spoke to me about the Election results, both pro and con, but I never wavered one bit – follow the facts and proof. The 2020 Presidential Election was Rigged and Stolen…And look at our Country now – not pretty!!!” he added in a separate post.
On Jan. 6, 2021, before the Capitol breach, Trump said, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard,” NPR reported.
He also urged protesters to go home after the breach erupted, saying in a video posted to Twitter at the time, as reported by PennLive, “We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side, but you have to go home now, we have to have peace.”
“We love you. You’re very special,” he said. “Go home in peace.”