From Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), one of only two Republicans on the House Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection:
"Their goal was to subvert America’s democratic process — and their means to this end was brute force and violent assaults on the men and women of the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.
"How did this happen? Why? Who spurred this effort? Was it organized? When did our government leaders know of the impending attacks and what were their responses? What level of preparation or warnings did our law enforcement have? Was there coordination between the rioters and any members of Congress, or with staff?"
From the Washington Post editorial board, also offering questions to be answered:
"Top of the list is precisely what then-President Donald Trump did before, during and after the attack. How did he prepare his speech preceding the insurrection, in which he told the crowd to fight? What did he anticipate his audience’s reaction would be? When did he know the pro-Trump mob was threatening the Capitol? Why did he offer only mild statements long after the danger was clear? Did Trump-affiliated rally organizers coordinate with extremist groups? Answering such questions calls for subpoenaing former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows; Mr. Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner; and other White House aides with useful information."
From committee chairman Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) on the committee's scope:
"This hearing is just the beginning of the select committee’s work; when it comes to the security of the Capitol — and our democracy — nothing will be off-limits. We will do what is necessary to understand what happened, why and how. And we will make recommendations to help ensure it never happens again. We owe it to the country we love to provide the answers that the American people deserve."
The hearings began this morning with a trenchant video overview of that day's violence, statements from Committee Chair Rep. Benny Thompson (D-MS) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), and testimony from four police officers who were subjected to vicious assaults by the Trumpist domestic terrorists. There's so much ground to cover in the investigation Dems need to be well prepared, and it's fortunate that they've got two of the best at fact finding on the Committee: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
