USA under Donald Trump: Republicans want new committee on Capitol attack

DER SPIEGEL USA under Donald Trump: Republicans want new committee on Capitol attack 2 hours • 3 minutes reading time It is another step by the Republicans to rewrite the events of January 6, 2021: A new committee is to "bring the whole truth to light." Trump also speaks about the storming of the Capitol in his first TV interview since taking office. The Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, wants to set up a new committee to look into the attack on the Capitol. Unlike the committee set up by the Democrats in 2021, however, the new committee will have a different focus. The Republicans are proud of how they "exposed the false representations of the politically motivated special committee on January 6," said Johnson. "But there is still more to do." A new committee will "bring the whole truth to light that we owe the American people." Republican Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden. But he never admitted defeat. Trump supporters then stormed the parliament building in Washington on January 6, 2021. Congress had met there to formally confirm Biden's election victory. Trump had previously incited his supporters in a speech with the false claim that he had been robbed of a victory by massive electoral fraud. Five people were killed as a result of the riots. The attack on the heart of US democracy shook the country. The Democrats subsequently pushed for a committee of inquiry. It was led by Republican Liz Cheney, who had opposed Trump after the Capitol attack. Just a few days ago, Joe Biden had preemptively pardoned Cheney as one of his last official acts as US President. The committee attracted a lot of attention at the time, and some sessions were broadcast during prime time. Witnesses made serious allegations against Trump, police officers described the violence. Founder of the far-right "Oath Keepers" visits the Capitol Trump repeatedly denigrated the committee members and threatened them. The newly sworn-in president and many Republicans have worked in recent years to reinterpret and downplay January 6th. Trump repeatedly claimed during his election campaign that it was not a storm, but a "day of love". In his first hours in office, he pardoned all convicted Capitol stormers or reduced their prison sentences so that they were released. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right "Oath Keepers", is now also free. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for helping to plan the storming of the Capitol. After his release, Rhodes appeared in the Capitol on Wednesday. According to reports, he spoke to several members of parliament. Trump received a lot of criticism from the political opposition for the extensive pardons; also by security forces who were deployed in the Capitol at the time. Trump defends pardons in first TV interview since taking office In his first TV interview after being sworn in, Trump defended his actions again. "They were treated like the worst criminals in history," he said of the Capitol stormers. "They knew the election was rigged and they protested against the election. Protesting against the election should be allowed." Trump spoke for the interview with Fox News presenter and avowed Trump supporter Sean Hannity in the Oval Office. Trump once again downplayed the extent of the violence on January 6, 2021. It is true that some of the people had clashed with the police. "But these were very minor incidents." He promised voters that he would release the Capitol stormers. "And they voted for me. And I won by a landslide."