The House Special Committee will present the first of a series of public hearings investigating the attack on the Capitol by a crowd of supporters of former President Donald Trump on January 6, 2020 this Thursday in prime time. with the aim of disseminating the results of his 11-month research.
It is the committee’s first public appearances since July 2021, when Capitol Police officers defending congressional facilities gave testimony about the events that left 5 dead and millions of dollars in damage to the congressional building.
It’s a rare event and could have historical implications, to the point that some are comparing it to the television sessions on the Watergate case 50 years ago, the political espionage scandal that cost Richard Nixon the presidency.
But with a divided and polarized public focused on more immediate issues like mass shootings, inflation and fuel prices, the hearings may not have the impact of those sessions or the outcomes many Democrats are hoping for.
A production worthy of prime time
For these reasons, committee spokespersons have informed the media that a an event worthy of primetime It is broadcast on several television channels.
The committee hired James Goldston, former ABC News president and documentary production specialist, who will lend it quality, according to a report by specialist media company Axios a “special investigative program” for the audience.
The story will be divided into chapters to facilitate the narrative, according to Jamie Raskin, a Democratic representative from Maryland and a member of the committee.
The committee hopes that once the public learns the extent of the conspiracy behind the attack on Capitol Hill, the public will take seriously the danger it posed to American democracy and be more open to those involved who are facing the ramifications of the investigation have to.
According to a poll published in May by The Washington Post and ABC News 52% of Americans think Trump should be charged with a crime for his role in the January 6 events, while 42% oppose bringing the former President to justice.
The hearings, the committee explained, “will present material that has not been previously publisheddocumenting the events of January 6, providing testimony, providing details of additional hearings, and providing the American people with a summary of its findings on the coordinated effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power. .
According to Liz Cheney, a Republican representative from Wyoming and vice chair of the committee, the events were part of a concerted conspiracy to ignore the outcome of the November 2020 presidential election.
Cheney told CNN that the conspiracy was “extremely wide-ranging and well organized,” adding that during the committee’s 10-month investigation, “I learned nothing that would have eased my concerns.”
What could be the consequences for Trump?
The legal implications of the investigation and the conclusions reached by the committee are limited as the group is unable to assign responsibilities or convict anyone for their involvement in the events of January 6, 2021.
However, lawmakers can refer cases to the Department of Justice. where you are convinced of criminal liability.
So far, the only cases referred by members of the Trump administration have been criminal contempts for failing to comply with issued subpoenas.
The Justice Department has pushed cases from Steve Bannon, the White House chief strategist for the first seven months of the Trump administration, and Peter Navarro, director of the Bureau of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
Instead, he decided not to pursue the cases against Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, and Dan Scavino, who served as deputy chief of staff for communications. Some congressmen have called the decision “confusing.”
But once the investigation is complete, the committee could bring criminal cases against others involved in the conspiracy, including Trump himself, with charges far more serious than criminal contempt.
A criminal charge against a former President of the United States would be an unprecedented event in the history of the nation.
Cheney said he hopes the public will pay attention to the hearings: “People need to see and understand how easily our democratic system can fall apart if we don’t defend it.”
