LIVE: Dems Hold HEARING on J6 as GOP Runs SCARED
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The January 6th Capitol attack was a violent, Trump-incited insurrection aimed at overturning the 2020 election, not a peaceful protest or 'tourist visit.'
- ❖Law enforcement officers suffered brutal physical and psychological trauma, with many still uncompensated for their sacrifices.
- ❖Donald Trump's pardons of J6 defendants, some described as occurring 'last year' and others as a hypothetical 'first day of a second term,' are condemned as rewarding violent felons and undermining the justice system.
- ❖The pardons are seen as empowering a 'private militia' loyal to Trump, potentially leading to future political violence.
- ❖Attempts to 'rewrite history' and 'whitewash' the events of January 6th are actively ongoing and pose a continuous threat to democracy.
- ❖Misinformation and disinformation are identified as primary drivers of political violence, eroding civic participation and trust in institutions.
- ❖The Department of Justice under a Trump administration is alleged to have purged career prosecutors, installed J6 participants, and deleted records related to the insurrection, further compromising its integrity.
- ❖Pamela Hempill, a convicted J6 defendant, publicly rejected Trump's pardon, stating she was guilty and that accepting it would be 'lying about what happened.'
- ❖The absence of Republican participation in the hearing was noted, highlighting the partisan divide on acknowledging the events of J6.
- ❖There is a call to preserve the history of January 6th through memorials, education, and continued public discourse to prevent future attacks on democracy.
Insights
1January 6th as a Violent Insurrection, Not a Protest
Multiple speakers, including Leader Jeff, Chairman Thompson, and Officer Pingen, unequivocally describe January 6th as a violent attack, incited by Donald Trump, to overturn the 2020 election and halt the peaceful transfer of power. They reject the narrative of it being a 'normal tourist visit' or 'peaceful protest,' citing brutal assaults on police officers, lasting physical and psychological damage, and the transformation of the Capitol into a 'war zone.'
Leader Jeff: '5 years ago today, a violent mob incited by Donald Trump attacked the capital as part of a concerted effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election...' (). Officer Pingen: 'I would absolutely not agree. That statement that it was a normal tourist visit is completely false.' (). Chairman Thompson: 'Five years ago today, an armed mob of thousands incited by President Donald Trump attacked, breached, and laid siege to the United States capital.' ().
2Trump's Pardons as a Reward for Political Violence
Speakers assert that Donald Trump's pardons of January 6th defendants, some described as occurring 'last year' and others as a hypothetical 'first day of a second term,' are not acts of justice but a deliberate reward for loyalty and violence. These pardons are seen as empowering a 'private militia' and signaling that violence in service of Trump is 'above the law,' thereby encouraging future unrest and undermining the justice system.
Leader Jeff: 'Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of violent felons who brutally beat police officers...' (). Congressman Rascin: 'On his first day back in office last year, he pardoned nearly 1,600 of the rioters and insurrectionists...' (). Brendan Belaloo: 'The clear message here... was to empower a group of people who were loyal to the president, willing to enact violence in his name, but quite literally beyond the reach of the law.' ().
3The 'Three Rings of Sedition' Leading to J6
Congressman Jamie Rascin outlines three interconnected 'rings of sedition' that converged on January 6th: the 'coup' (Trump's 'big lie' and coercive pressure campaigns), the 'insurrection' (organized violent groups like Proud Boys and Oathkeepers), and the 'mob violence' (tens of thousands of 'mob extras' recruited by Trump's social media calls to 'be there, it'll be wild').
Congressman Rascin: 'So we must remember three rings of sedition that took place on J6. the realm of the coup, the realm of the insurrection, and the realm of the mob violence.' ().
4Damage to the Department of Justice and Rule of Law
Former federal prosecutor Brendan Belaloo details how Trump's actions, including firing or demoting career FBI agents and prosecutors involved in J6 cases and appointing J6 participants to senior DOJ roles, have severely damaged the department's expertise and credibility. This is seen as part of an 'authoritarian playbook' where loyalty to one man is rewarded over upholding the rule of law.
Brendan Belaloo: 'He's fired or demoted career FBI agents and prosecutors, my former colleagues, who investigated and prosecuted riers.' (). 'The department is hemorrhaging credibility... And the only tool that the Department of Justice has is its credibility...' ().
5Pamela Hempill's Rejection of Pardon and Call for Truth
Pamela Hempill, a convicted J6 defendant, publicly rejected Donald Trump's pardon, stating she was 'guilty' and that accepting it would be 'lying about what happened on January the 6th.' She emphasized that police officers saved her life during the riot and condemned ongoing attempts to 'gaslight' the public about the day's violence.
Pamela Hempill: 'When Donald Trump pardoned us, I rejected the pardon. accepting that pardon would be lying about what happened on January the 6th. I am guilty and I own that guilt.' (). 'If it hadn't been for the Capitol police officers, I would I would have died.' ().
Lessons
- Actively resist attempts to 'whitewash' or 'gaslight' the history of January 6th by speaking out, writing, and educating others about the true events.
- Support efforts to memorialize the events of January 6th and honor the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol, such as installing the congressional-mandated plaque.
- Demand accountability for those who incite political violence and those who undermine the rule of law, recognizing that unchecked actions can lead to future attacks on democracy.
- Engage in civic participation and uphold constitutional oaths, remembering that progress towards justice requires continuous effort and dedication.
- Be vigilant against misinformation and disinformation, especially on social media, which are identified as primary drivers of political violence.
Notable Moments
A moment of silence was held for the passing of Congressman Doug Lamalfa, highlighting a shared moment of respect amidst the partisan nature of the hearing.
This brief pause for a deceased colleague provided a moment of bipartisan solemnity before the highly charged political discussion, underscoring the human element within a political institution.
Officer Winston Pingen recounts being called a 'traitor,' violently assaulted, and believing he would die on the Capitol steps on January 6th.
His personal testimony provides a visceral, firsthand account of the violence, directly refuting claims that J6 was a peaceful event and emphasizing the severe human cost to law enforcement.
Pamela Hempill, a convicted J6 defendant, tearfully apologizes to the Capitol Police officers present, expressing deep regret for her participation in the mob.
Her apology and rejection of Trump's pardon stand as a powerful counter-narrative to the 'whitewashing' efforts, demonstrating personal accountability and the impact of 'the big lie' on individuals.
Congressman Swallwell compares January 6th to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, calling them 'scar tissue' on American history, and emphasizes the danger of moving on too quickly from tragedies.
This comparison elevates the perceived historical significance of J6, framing it as a foundational event that demands collective remembrance and action to prevent future democratic collapse.
Brendan Belaloo describes how many stoic police officers broke down crying in his office while processing the horror of J6, highlighting the deep psychological trauma.
This insight reveals the hidden, long-term psychological toll on law enforcement, adding another dimension to the violence beyond physical injuries and underscoring the emotional impact of the day.
Quotes
"5 years ago today, a violent mob incited by Donald Trump attacked the capital as part of a concerted effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and halt the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in American history."
"On the first day in office of his second term, instead of fulfilling his promise to lower the high cost of living on day one, Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of violent felons who brutally beat police officers while storming the United States capital."
"January 6 was not a regular tourist visit. It was not a day of love. It was a bloody riot that pushed our democracy to the breaking point."
"Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
"On his first day back in office last year, he pardoned nearly 1,600 of the riers and insurrectionists, including hundreds who violated police officers..."
"Pardoning criminals who severely beat me and my fellow officers that day is completely unacceptable. We cannot accept violent felons being pardoned and released back into our neighborhoods without consequence. That is not justice."
"I believe it's because he knows that if he can convince Americans to forget the attack on the capital, then he can convince us to attack any attack on democracy, no matter how violent."
"Once I got away from the mega cult and started educating myself about January the 6, I knew what I did was wrong. I pleaded guilty to my crimes because I did the crime. I received due process and the DOJ was not weaponized against me. When Donald Trump pardoned us, I rejected the pardon. accepting that pardon would be lying about what happened on January the 6th. I am guilty and I own that guilt."
"You can't gaslight me. I was there. I saw what you did. I saw the officers being pepper-sprayed... So, don't be telling me it wasn't violent. Don't be Don't come to me with that ever again."
"Since the Civil War, the three most important days in American history are December 7, 1941, September 11, and January 6. And we don't need the years for the last two because we know what happened. They aren't dates on the calendar. They're scar tissue."
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