Five years have passed since a violent mob incited by then-President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, disrupting the certification of President Joe Biden's victory and leaving millions of dollars in damages. To mark this somber anniversary, House Democrats held an unofficial hearing on Tuesday, featuring appearances from several witnesses who recounted the events of that fateful day.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led the hearing, which stretched nearly five hours as witnesses testified about the attack and its aftermath. Jeffries highlighted the pardons granted to hundreds of rioters by Trump on his first day in office, with some subsequently arrested for other charges involving guns, drugs, and domestic abuse. The hearing also focused on "ongoing threats to free and fair elections posed by an out-of-control Trump administration."
Several witnesses testified about their experiences during the attack. Pamela Hemphill, the only riot defendant to reject Trump's pardon, said she was "deeply grateful" for the chance to make amends and discuss what happened five years ago. She acknowledged that accepting a pardon would be dishonest and refused it, taking ownership of her guilt.
Other witnesses included former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, former Capitol Police officer Winston Pingeon, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, former Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Elaine Luria, and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. All three served on the Jan. 6 committee, which issued four criminal referrals to the Justice Department against Trump.
Duncan testified about Trump's pressure campaign to reject the election results in Georgia and the threats of violence he faced after refusing. The former leader of the far-right group the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, also appeared at a march marking the day's events, saying it was an honor for Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer while attempting to breach the Speaker's Lobby.
Trump has downplayed his role in the attack, praising the rioters as "patriots" and accusing the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against his supporters. However, the Democrats' hearing served as a stark reminder that the consequences of Trump's actions are still being felt today, with many still waiting for accountability.
As the nation marks five years since the US Capitol attack, it is clear that the events of January 6th will not be easily forgotten. The ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that such attacks never happen again remain a pressing concern for lawmakers and citizens alike.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led the hearing, which stretched nearly five hours as witnesses testified about the attack and its aftermath. Jeffries highlighted the pardons granted to hundreds of rioters by Trump on his first day in office, with some subsequently arrested for other charges involving guns, drugs, and domestic abuse. The hearing also focused on "ongoing threats to free and fair elections posed by an out-of-control Trump administration."
Several witnesses testified about their experiences during the attack. Pamela Hemphill, the only riot defendant to reject Trump's pardon, said she was "deeply grateful" for the chance to make amends and discuss what happened five years ago. She acknowledged that accepting a pardon would be dishonest and refused it, taking ownership of her guilt.
Other witnesses included former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, former Capitol Police officer Winston Pingeon, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, former Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Elaine Luria, and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. All three served on the Jan. 6 committee, which issued four criminal referrals to the Justice Department against Trump.
Duncan testified about Trump's pressure campaign to reject the election results in Georgia and the threats of violence he faced after refusing. The former leader of the far-right group the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, also appeared at a march marking the day's events, saying it was an honor for Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer while attempting to breach the Speaker's Lobby.
Trump has downplayed his role in the attack, praising the rioters as "patriots" and accusing the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against his supporters. However, the Democrats' hearing served as a stark reminder that the consequences of Trump's actions are still being felt today, with many still waiting for accountability.
As the nation marks five years since the US Capitol attack, it is clear that the events of January 6th will not be easily forgotten. The ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that such attacks never happen again remain a pressing concern for lawmakers and citizens alike.
? I mean, I know Trump said he didn't do anything wrong, but come on... the fact that people lost their lives and millions of dollars were damaged is just crazy 
. And now we're still dealing with the consequences, like how many of those rioters got pardoned by him 
. It's like, you can't just wipe your hands clean after causing so much chaos and destruction.
. And I'm glad someone from the Proud Boys showed up to be held accountable too, even if it was just a small step 
.
just heard about this somber anniversary marking 5 years since the US Capitol attack 
it's crazy to think about how long ago that was 
I'm still shocked by what happened on Jan 6th 
Trump's actions are still having an impact today, especially with all these pardons being granted to rioters 
and now they're even downplaying their role in the whole thing 
Man, can't believe it's been 5 years since that crazy day at the US Capitol... It's wild how much damage was done by all those rioters, millions of dollars worth. And to think Trump just pardoned hundreds of them without even giving them a second thought 
And I'm still shook by the story of Ashli Babbitt getting shot and killed trying to break into the Speaker's Lobby... That was just senseless violence. It's crazy that her life got cut short like that.
The thing is, 5 years later, we're still dealing with the consequences of Trump's actions. And it's not just about holding him accountable, but also making sure this never happens again. We need to keep pushing for free and fair elections, and we can't let our democracy get hijacked by some crazy politician.
The fact that Democrats are still holding these hearings and pushing for accountability is a good thing. It shows they're committed to ensuring our country's democratic values aren't trampled on.
its crazy how much damage was done by Trump's mob 
the fact that Trumps trying to downplay his role in it is just mind-blowing 
also, why did they grant pardons to all those rioters on day 1 
thats just not right 
. We need real accountability for those responsible, not some watered-down version of justice. I'm glad the Democrats are pushing for answers, even if it's a little late to the party 
Now, it seems like every day, there's another scandal or controversy brewing in Washington. It's exhausting, you know?
five yrs ago & ppl are stil tryna profit from it 
meanwhile, the country's movin on 
. Give me a break! We need to see some real accountability here, especially when it comes to those pardons he granted to rioters... so messed up 
Those rioters who got pardoned? Not exactly heroes in my book 
Meanwhile, the Biden admin is still dealing with the fallout from that day, trying to make sure something like this never happens again 
? I mean, yeah it was super scary and violent, but I think its cool that they're still pushing to get answers & accountability 
. and omg how much drama with trump's pardons 
. but anywayz i think its awesome that they're still having these kinda hearings & making sure we learn from the past 
. We're still fighting for our democracy, and that takes a lot of courage and determination. Let's keep pushing forward! 
AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO WEAVE HIS WAY OUT OF CONSEQUENCES WITH EASINESS