A high-profile congressional committee investigating the assault on the US Capitol has opened its public proceedings by presenting a stark narrative: that President Donald Trump was the central figure in a coordinated “attempted coup” to subvert American democracy and remain in power.
In a peak-viewing presentation concluding a year-long investigation, the select committee sought to convince a deeply polarised nation of a sophisticated, multi-pronged conspiracy orchestrated by Mr Trump to overturn the 2020 election results. The panel argued that the violence of 6 January 2021 was not a spontaneous outburst but the culmination of a deliberate strategy.
Table of Contents
The Case for Conspiracy
The committee’s chairman, Bennie Thompson, opened the first hearing by characterising the event as a “brazen attempt” to overthrow the government. “President Trump was at the centre of this conspiracy,” Mr Thompson asserted, noting that the rioters acted under the direct encouragement of the commander-in-chief.
The Republican vice-chair, Liz Cheney, delivered equally blistering remarks, stating that Mr Trump “summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.” The committee supported these claims with never-before-seen footage of the breach and damning testimony from Mr Trump’s inner circle, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, who described the President’s claims of election fraud as “bullshit.”
Key Participants and Evidence
The inquiry highlighted several illegal schemes allegedly supported by the White House, including plans to seize voting machines and the appointment of “alternative electors” to ignore the popular vote in swing states.
| Witness/Figure | Role/Connection | Key Disclosure |
| Bill Barr | Former Attorney General | Confirmed he told Trump the fraud claims were meritless. |
| Ivanka Trump | Senior Advisor / Daughter | Admitted she accepted Barr’s conclusion that the election was fair. |
| Jared Kushner | Senior Aide / Son-in-law | Dismissed White House counsel threats to resign as “whining.” |
| Caroline Edwards | Capitol Police Officer | Gave live testimony on the “war scene” and her traumatic brain injury. |
| Nick Quested | British Filmmaker | Provided footage of the Proud Boys’ reconnaissance of the Capitol. |
The Human and Legal Toll
The committee underscored that the conspiracy led to significant physical and democratic damage. While Mr Trump has dismissed the probe as a “witch hunt,” the statistics regarding the day’s violence are stark.
- Casualties: Five people died in connection with the riot.
- Injuries: More than 140 police officers sustained injuries, including concussions, rib fractures, and chemical burns.
- Witnesses: The committee interviewed over 1,000 witnesses and reviewed more than 140,000 documents.
- Legal Action: Five leaders of the “Proud Boys” neofascist group have been charged with seditious conspiracy, a rare and serious charge involving an agreement to use force against the state.
Defensive Rebuttals
Mr Trump remains defiant, using his social media platforms to defend the events as “the greatest movement in history.” House Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy echoed this sentiment, labelling the panel “the least legitimate committee in American history,” despite a federal judge recently upholding the committee’s legal standing.
As the hearings continue through the summer, the panel aims to provide a definitive historical record. While Mr Trump is not on trial in a criminal sense during these proceedings, he remains under the intense scrutiny of the “court of public opinion” as the committee prepares its final report for the autumn.