Donald Trump said Mike Pence 'deserved to be hanged' during Capitol Hill riot

Donald Trump said Mike Pence 'deserved to be hanged' during Capitol Hill riot
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Anna Fox

By Anna Fox


Published: 10/06/2022

- 11:57

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:05

Trump supporters chanted "hang Mike Pence" as they stormed the US Capitol last year

The damning line arose last night, in an investigation into the attack on the Capitol last year by the Congressional Committee.

The investigation highlighted the extent of Trump's rage at Pence for refusing to block certification of Joe Biden as President and the depth to which he was willing to lower himself as he grappled with power.


The Congressional Committee has spent months summoning hundreds of witnesses, amassing thousands of documents subpoenaed, the select committee began laying out its findings in the first of six televised hearings.

Millions of Americans tuned into proceedings, which were broadcast live on primetime TV, the committee offered its first portion of evidence that “January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup” to keep Trump as President.

Protestors chanted 'hang Mike Pence' during Capitol riots
Protestors chanted 'hang Mike Pence' during Capitol riots
Shannon Stapleton

The testimony took over two hours, featuring unseen video and a testimony from Senior Trump officials and his own daughter.

The Congressional Committee placed Mr Trump at the centre of an unprecedented conspiracy to undermine American democracy and disrupt the peaceful transition of power to the next President.

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in retaliation of the removal of him from the Presidential role.

Democratic Committee Chair, Bennie Thompson, said: "The violence was no accident" adding, "it represented Trump's last stand."

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in January last year
Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in January last year
Leah Millis

The first videoed witness testimony shown was from former Attorney General Bill Barr, a senior official in the Trump White House to give evidence to the committee.

A former loyalist who resigned in protest in December 2020 as the president became obsessed with proving the election was stolen through voter fraud, Mr Barr was depicted informing investigators that he had told Trump bluntly his claims were “bulls***”.

“I didn’t want to be a part of it,” Mr Barr added.

“You can’t live in a world where the incumbent administration stays in power based on its view, without specific evidence, that there was fraud in the election."

The former US President, fuelled angry supporters with claims that his vote had been stolen, the Committee revealed last night.

The committee released harrowing, previously unseen video of the violence that unfolded after Trump addressed supporters outside the White House before urging them to march on the Capitol.

The Congressional Committee are investigating the events of January 6 at the Capitol building
The Congressional Committee are investigating the events of January 6 at the Capitol building
Leah Millis

“We’ve lost the line, all PD fall back!” said a voice on police radio, layered over video of officers being assaulted as rioters bashed down barricades and pitched battles erupted on the steps of Congress.

Moments later, a voice said: “Officer down.”

As rioters were shown violently beating police and hurling projectiles, Trump’s voice was heard, speaking to Fox News days after the assault.

“These were peaceful people,” Trump said. “And the love in the air. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Over 150 officers were injured in the violence that ended in an armed siege at the doors of the House of Representatives, with one protestor shot dead by police as they attempted to force entry.

A live testimony from Caroline Edwards, a Capitol police officer who sustained a traumatic brain injury during the protests, was played to the panel.

Brian Sicknick, an officer assaulted at the Capitol, suffered two strokes and died the following data from injuries sustained during the riots.

At least four policemen caught up in the violence committed suicide in the weeks that followed.

Trump supported chants of rioters threatening to kill his Vice President during the Capitol Hill riots last year, saying: "Mike Pence deserves it."

Anticipating those Republican efforts to downplay its findings, however, the committee previewed evidence to come that GOP congressmen spoke to the White House seeking pardons for their roles in January 6.

The Republican Party's efforts to distance themselves from the violence on January 6 were further undermined yesterday when Ryan Kelley, a GOP candidate for governor in Michigan, was arrested by the FBI over his involvement in the Capitol riot.

Donald Trump said Mike Pence %22deserved to be hanged%22
Donald Trump said Mike Pence "deserved to be hanged"
MARCO BELLO

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