Final Jan. 6 hearing of the summer focuses on Trump during, after riots

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot closed out its set of summer hearings Thursday night with a focal point on President Trump. President Trump’s speech outside the Capitol on election fraud ended at 1:10 p.m. on Jan. 6. He released a video at 4:17 p.m. telling followers to go home peacefully. Committee members blame President Trump for what happened in the 187 minutes in between.

“Virtually everyone told President Trump to condemn the violence in clear and unmistakable terms, and those on capitol hill and across the nation begged President Trump to help,” Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), the committee’s chairwoman, said. “The former president chose not to do what all of those people begged.”

The day after Jan. 6, the president released another video condemning the riot and saying a transition of power would take place. The committee released outtakes of that video never seen before from when it was being recorded. President Trump is seen not wanting to say the exact words the election is over. Trump was reluctant to end his term on the basis of election fraud. However, widespread fraud was never proven.

“But this election is now over, Congress has certified the results,” President Trump said in the outtake video. “I don’t want to say the election’s over. I just want to say congress has certified the results without saying the election’s over.”

The president was reluctant to end his term on the basis of election fraud. Widespread election fraud was never proven. The committee said other public hearings are expected for September.