Donald Trump watched Capitol riots on TV and ignored pleas to call it off, inquiry hears

Josh Salisbury
·2-min read
Donald Trump watched Capitol riots on TV and ignored pleas to call it off, inquiry hears

Donald Trump watched the January 6 US Capitol attack on TV and refused to call it off despite desperate pleas from aides and even his own family, a congressional inquiry has heard.

Mr Trump refused to condemn the insurrection attempt, instead “pouring gasoline on the fire" by tweeting his false claims of a stolen election, the House committee investigating the event heard Thursday.

“President Trump didn’t fail to act," said Republican Adam Kinzinger. "He chose not to act."

The primetime hearing was told the former US President watched the violence on TV and did not place a single call to law enforcement or national security staff.

Capitol Hill Riot: Police Body Cam Footage

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The eighth House of Representatives select committee hearing aimed to show President Trump’s actions “minute-by-minute”.

The panel, which includes two Republicans, is aiming to build a case that Mr Trump acted illegally in his bid to overturn the 2020 Presidential result.

It heard how he declared, “I don’t want to say the election is over”, in an unaired outtake of an address that was to be given to the nation.

Mr Trump, who is said to be considering a return bid for the presidency in 2024, dismissed the committee as a “kangaroo court” and said the panel and witnesses had told “many lies and misrepresentations”.

Liz Cheney, the panel’s Republican vice chair, said: “Donald Trump made a purposeful choice to violate his oath of office.”

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

While the riot was raging, Mr Trump was “giving the green light” by publicly condemning Vice President Mike Pence’s refusal to go along with his plan to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, a former White House aide told the committee.

Two aides resigned on the spot as a result.

Previously unheard recordings of Secret Service radio transmissions revealed agents at the Capitol tried to whisk Mr Pence to safety amid the mayhem and even asked for messages to be relayed telling their own families goodbye.

The panel also revealed a text from the president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr, to his father’s chief of staff Mark Meadows urging the president to call off the mob.

The panel showed video of Mr Trump refusing to deliver a speech the next day declaring the election was over, despite his daughter, Ivanka Trump, heard off camera, encouraging him to read the script.

While the committee cannot make criminal charges, the Justice Department is monitoring its work.

Capitol Hill Riot: Pro-Trump supporters storm US Capitol Building

U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol (AP)
U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol (AP)
Police officers use pepper spray on pro-Trump protesters during the clashes (REUTERS)
Police officers use pepper spray on pro-Trump protesters during the clashes (REUTERS)
U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol (AP)
U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol (AP)
An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington (REUTERS)
An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington (REUTERS)
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber (Getty Images)
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber (Getty Images)
Smoke fills the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol (AP)
Smoke fills the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol (AP)
A supporter of US President Donald Trump struggles with a riot policeman after the protester pushed a line of police outside the Capitol building (AFP via Getty Images)
A supporter of US President Donald Trump struggles with a riot policeman after the protester pushed a line of police outside the Capitol building (AFP via Getty Images)
People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol (AP)
People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol (AP)
Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol (AP)
Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol (AP)
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier (AP)
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier (AP)
Supporters of President Donald Trump puts water in his eyes after U.S. Capitol Police deployed a chemical agent outside of the U.S. Capitol (AP)
Supporters of President Donald Trump puts water in his eyes after U.S. Capitol Police deployed a chemical agent outside of the U.S. Capitol (AP)

So far, more than 840 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot.

No former president has ever been federally prosecuted by the Justice Department.

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