WASHINGTON (AP) – The House committee investigating the January 6 riot is delving deeper into what it calls “the big lie”, Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud that fuelled his relentless effort to overturn the 2020 election and led a mob of his supporters to lay siege to the United States (US) Capitol.
The 1/6 panel resumed its hearings yesterday with live witnesses, including Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, as committee members said they have uncovered enough evidence for the Justice Department to consider an unprecedented criminal indictment against the former president. Stepien was subpoenaed for his public testimony.
Chairman Rep Bennie Thompson and vice chair Rep Liz Cheneyled the hearing after last week’s blockbuster session drew nearly 20 million Americans to see its prime-time findings.
For the past year, the committee has been investigating the most violent attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812 to ensure such an assault never happens again.
Its findings come as Trump is considering another run for the White House, and some warn that his effort to over turn Joe Biden’s election victory posed a grave threat to democracy.
Stepien, a longtime Trump ally, oversaw the “conversion” of Trump’s presidential campaign to a “Stop the Steal” effort, according to a subpoena issued by the committee last fall.
