Topline
Former President Donald Trump lashed out at the January 6 House committee and some who testified to the panel after it shared findings during the first of several public hearings on Thursday evening, calling former Attorney General William Barr “weak and frightened” and denying claims he endorsed rioters’ chants to “Hang Mike Pence!”.
January 6 committee members Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), and Rep. Jamie … [+]
Key Facts
In a Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump claimed he “NEVER said, or even thought of saying, ‘Hang Mike Pence,’” calling it a made-up story by “somebody looking to become a star.”
Trump continued to peddle false allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election and took aim at Barr, calling him “stupid” and a “coward.”
Trump’s post came after Barr told the January 6 Committee in a clip aired by the panel Thursday night he thought Trump’s claims of voter fraud were “bulls***”
Trump also said his daughter Ivanka—who testified to the committee she accepted Barr’s conclusion there was no widespread voter fraud—had “long since checked out” after Election Day and was not “involved in looking at, or studying” election results, adding she accepted Barr’s conclusions in order to “be respectful” of his position as attorney general.
Trump once again denied his role in the Capitol siege, arguing the insurrection was caused by “a Rigged and Stolen election.”
Crucial Quote
“I had three discussions with the president that I can recall…I made it clear I did not agree with the idea of saying the election was stolen and putting out this stuff which I told the president was bulls***. I didn’t want to be a part of it,” Barr told the January 6 committee in a video shared by the panel.
Key Background
The House Committee—made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans—on Thursday shared a host of jarring revelations about its months-long probe into the insurrection, including that Trump didn’t call any agencies like the Department of Defense to help secure the Capitol after rioters breached the building and that the former president responded to rioters who were chanting “Hang Mike Pence” by saying Pence “deserves it.” The committee also shared testimony from several witnesses, including Ivanka Trump, Barr and Capitol Police officer Caroline Edwards, who was injured during the riots and described the scene at the Capitol as a “warzone.” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the committee, concluded Trump “energized” far-right groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, while Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the committee’s vice chair, called Republicans who have defended Trump “dishonor[able]
What To Watch For
A second hearing on June 13. The session will focus on Trump’s failed million-dollar campaign to perpetuate false allegations of election fraud as well as how he ignored advice from staffers and other government officials who said his claims were not true, according to Cheney.
Further Reading
Jan. 6 Committee Hearing: Riot Defendants Say Trump ‘Asked’ Them To Storm Capitol (Forbes)
Trump Approved Of ‘Hang Mike Pence!’ Chants During Capitol Riot, Staffers Reportedly Learned (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/06/10/political-thugs-donald-trump-slams-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-truth-social/