Carper Statement on Revelations from First Public January 6th Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the first public hearing of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol:

“The Big Lie — Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated and false claim that the 2020 election was stolen — inspired the January 6th attack that lead to nine Americans dead, 140 police officers injured, and ultimately to the failed attempts to hang the Republican Vice President of the United States and overturn the 2020 election. Last night, the bipartisan House Select Committee began to shed new light on the attack on the Capitol and the conspiracy to overturn a free and fair election in the United States. I am grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues for working together for more than a year to provide a clear picture of that dark day to the American people. 

“In the weeks to come, these hearings will also prove that the January 6th attack was not merely a dark day or some random event. This was a dark chapter in our nation’s history that began long before the Proud Boys and their supporters breached the Capitol. Donald Trump, for the first time in our nation’s history, refused to peacefully transfer power. Trump’s Big Lie was a call to action on January 6th for white supremacists and other extremists. The plotting, planning, and execution of an attempted coup took place, and soon we will learn the role of the former president and his closest advisors.

“Unfortunately, instead of denouncing the worst attack on our Constitution since the Civil War, too many political leaders and candidates are pledging allegiance to the Big Lie, attempting to ingratiate themselves to a disgraced former president instead of telling the truth. It is disturbing that the same deranged rhetoric that led to January 6th continues online, in right-wing media, and on the campaign trail. Last night’s hearing should serve as a stark reminder that as long as the Big Lie remains in our politics, the threats to our Constitution and our next election will also remain.

“Over 800 Americans have been charged with crimes related to the January 6th attack, ranging from the leaders of a white supremacist hate group earlier this week to a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan just yesterday. We must continue to seek accountability for any individual who violated our laws and our Constitution. In the weeks to come, the bipartisan House Select Committee will continue to seek the truth and present more evidence to the American public. I encourage the Committee to continue seeking the truth, no matter where it leads.” 

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