The parliamentary committee of the Chamber of Deputies that investigated the assault held ten public hearings in 2022, outlining a minute-by-minute chronology of the events that Wednesday, in which the results of Joe Biden's election would be certified, following his victory over Donald Trump, who did not recognize defeat.
The day began with Chief of Staff Mike Meadows and Republican Jim Jordan exchanging SMS messages about pushing for Vice President Mike Pence to reject the certification. At 9:24 am, Trump and Jordan speak on the phone. Before 10 am, deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato warns Trump that his supporters at Elipse, where he will speak, are armed with pistols, rifles and arrows, among other bladed weapons.
Trump asks employees to remove metal detectors from Elipse. "They're not here to hurt me," he said, according to a statement from employee Cassidy Hutchinson.
At around 11:30 a.m., some protesters began harassing Republican congressmen as they arrived at the Capitol, demanding that they refuse to certify Joe Biden's election. Near the White House, thousands of supporters gathered to listen to Donald Trump, who began speaking at 12 noon local time.
"We will never give up. We will never concede," Trump said, before a noisy, galvanized crowd. "Mike Pence, I hope you defend the good of our Constitution and our country," he said, referring to his vice president, who was to preside over the ceremony at the Capitol. "And if you don't, I'm going to be very disappointed in you."
Pence then released a statement saying his role was only ceremonial and he had no power to reject the certification. Trump supporters began heading to the Capitol even before the end of the president's speech.
At 1 pm, the first mass of protesters, including the far-right group Proud Boys, manage to break the initial barrier placed by the police at the doors of the Capitol. Five minutes later, Lower House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was calling the joint session of Congress to begin the certification.
That's when Trump ends his speech and asks his supporters to march: "Let's go to the Capitol. Let's try to give Republicans the kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country."
But Trump did not go to the Capitol, because security guards took him back to the White House. His supporters marched to the Capitol chanting the name of the country, while inside Republican Congressman Paul Gosar and Senator Ted Cruz questioned the election results. As a result, the two chambers separated to deliberate on the objection.
At 1:30 p.m., protesters attacked the police behind the Capitol and managed to break through the barriers, beating officers and forcing them to retreat inside the building. At 2 p.m., they broke the windows and entered, opening the doors for the crowd to enter.
It was at this point that the Secret Service led Mike Pence out of the Senate, followed by Nancy Pelosi. Both chambers adjourned at 2:20 p.m., with the entire building placed on lockdown.
Police officer Eugene Goodman saves Mitt Romney and manages to prevent the protesters from invading the Senate. The congressmen are crouched behind chairs, while outside they shout "Hang Mike Pence!".
At 2:24 p.m., Donald Trump publishes a tweet criticizing his vice president: "Mike Pence did not have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution." Fourteen minutes later, he writes again on the social network asking the protesters to "remain peaceful."
However, there is chaos inside the Capitol. The congressmen put on tear gas masks and have to flee, with the rioters invading the Senate before 3 p.m. The Capitol is taken. Members of the extremist group Oath Keepers move in military formation amid the burglars, who enter offices, steal documents, destroy property and take selfies showing off the spoils.
At this point, more protesters try to enter the Speaker's Lobby, where staff are barricaded, breaking windows and forcing their way in. An officer shoots protester Ashli Babbit as she is about to enter. She dies minutes later.
Before 3:00 p.m., Trump speaks with Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who begs him to do something. But Trump tells him he is on the side of the rioters, who care more about the election than he does.
At 3:11 p.m., locked in his office, Republican Mike Gallagher begs Trump to stop the assault. "You're the only person who can stop this. Stop them. The election is over. Stop it."
Trump does not retract the allegations of voter fraud. At 3:36 p.m., two hours after the assault began, the President finally calls in the National Guard, something that lawmakers had been asking for from the beginning.
Two protesters die of heart attacks, Kevin Greeson and Benjamin Phillips.
At 4:15 p.m., President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation and asks Trump to uphold his oath to defend the Constitution. "This is not a protest, this is an insurrection," he proclaims.
Two minutes later, Trump posts a video empathizing with the protesters, telling them that he feels their pain and loves them. "You are very special. You've seen what happens. You've seen how others are treated. I know how you feel, but go home in peace."
Shortly before 6 p.m., the police regain control of the Capitol and the mayor of Washington institutes a 12-hour curfew.
Minutes later, Trump addresses the public again. "These are the things and events that happen when a landslide election victory is cruelly and unceremoniously ripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long." Facebook and Twitter eventually delete these inflammatory videos and tweets, and Trump's accounts are permanently banned. Pence reopens the Senate, and at around 9 p.m. Pelosi resumes the session. At 3:42 a.m., Joe Biden's election is certified. Police officer Brian Sicknick, who was sprayed with the spray, dies of a heart attack on January 7. Five other officers would die by suicide in the following months.
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