Americans who chose to watch the first January 6 House select committee hearing saw the people closest to former President Donald Trump lay out in damning detail the violent insurrection at the US Capitol, tracing a direct line of responsibility to Trump for leading what looks very much like an attempted coup, a plot to seize power by force and deny the American people the government of their choosing.
It was a searing indictment, made all the more powerful because the people who provided the most damaging accusations against Trump were those closest to him, people who had vigorously defended him in the past.
The historic hearing was devastating for the twice-impeached former president. But will it make a difference? For a sample of the depth of cynicism about the prospects that Trump will be held accountable, look at
the comments following this report of an investigation into his handling of gifts he received as president.
Americans have seen Trump impeached; they have watched him break rules relentlessly without paying a price.
Will it happen this time? The case was strong and we know that Attorney General
Merrick Garland was watching. But the key point here is not just what happens to the man who, according to committee vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney,
“summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame,” of the attack on the Capitol.
What happens to Trump matters, but what matters more than anything is what happens to American democracy. That’s because the plot that produced January 6 has not ended.
The
“Big Lie” continues, and there is no guarantee that American democracy can survive another presidential election when one of the two parties remains beholden to a confirmed falsehood about the 2020 election.
If the committee can convince at least a segment of the unconvinced of the outrageousness of what transpired around Trump’s efforts to take power after losing the election, it could help save America’s ailing democracy.
The hearing on Thursday was an excellent start.
The meticulously deployed material was presented with calm but intense demeanor by one of the most conservative members of Congress. Cheney — who was one of the top Republicans in the House until she refused to countenance Trump’s false claims that he won the election — took the microphone after chairman Bernie Thompson opened the hearing. She proceeded to eviscerate the former president’s claims, and to do it in such a way that the Department of Justice and the
prosecutors in Georgia are likely to find of great interest.
We know Trump denies he lost the election. But abundant testimony strongly suggests he has known that is a lie, and that could have serious legal consequences, even if
the majority of Republicans mistakenly believe his 2020 election loss was the result of illegal voting or rigging.
In a polarized country, it’s tough to change minds. It’s impossible to convince all Americans of anything today. But there’s a segment of the population whose minds may be changed.
The first clip of the night, the first soundbite, was testimony from Trump’s attorney general, Bill Barr. Barr said he told Trump that claims that the election was stolen were
“Bullshit.” Barr said he opposed the idea of claiming the election was stolen and “didn’t want to be a part of it.”
As for the conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines, Barr called them “complete nonsense” and “crazy stuff.”
The former president’s daughter,
Ivanka Trump, said she respected Barr and “…accepted what he was saying.”
One after another, people close to Trump, his allies and his inner circle, said they knew the election was fair and they told him so repeatedly.
Screenshots of Fox News host
Sean Hannity, a Trump ally, texting with Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany showed they both knew Trump was inviting impeachment and even removal via the 25th amendment.
Still, Republicans in Congress played along with the scam. Cheney said “multiple” Republican congressmen
sought presidential…
Read More: Opinion: The big question about the January 6 hearings goes beyond Trump