(DailyChive.com) – A report from the House Oversight Subcommittee has concluded that there is “no evidence” President Trump supported rioters on January 6, 2021, who had called for then-Vice President Mike Pence to be hanged. Released this week, the interim report reviews the Capitol riot and highlights concerns about the methods used by the January 6 Select Committee.
Key findings include that Trump did not attack his Secret Service detail, nor was there a secret plan for him to go to the Capitol. Importantly, the report states there’s no evidence Trump agreed with chants from rioters calling for harm to Pence. These findings challenge claims made by the January 6 Select Committee, which heavily relied on testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Mark Meadows, Trump’s Chief of Staff.
The report criticizes the Select Committee for basing accusations on Hutchinson’s evolving testimony. Initially, she did not mention Trump agreeing with the chants during interviews in early 2022. It wasn’t until May of that year, reportedly at Representative Liz Cheney’s urging, that Hutchinson brought up the claim.
Even then, her account shifted. At first, Hutchinson claimed she personally witnessed a conversation between Trump and Meadows about the chants. Later, she admitted she had no direct knowledge and was relaying a third-hand account. Hutchinson ultimately attributed her statement to overhearing two White House lawyers discussing a hypothetical comment from Trump, describing his supposed response as vague: “maybe perhaps the chants were justified.”
The Subcommittee highlights inconsistencies in Hutchinson’s testimony and notes that other witnesses contradicted her claims. For example, a White House employee who was near Trump throughout January 6 provided an account directly opposing Hutchinson’s story. This witness testified Trump neither endorsed the chants nor displayed the behavior Hutchinson described.
The report also emphasizes that those who worked closely with Meadows rejected the idea he would carelessly repeat or condone such claims. It argues the Select Committee ignored these contradictions, choosing to amplify Hutchinson’s statements without adequate scrutiny.
Overall, the findings suggest the Select Committee may have prioritized building a narrative over seeking the truth, casting doubt on its broader conclusions about Trump’s role in the events of January 6.
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