US 1.6 Riot Hearing Testimony Describes "Massacre Scene"... Trump Calls It a "Great Movement"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] "I couldn't believe my eyes. The police officers were bleeding and vomiting, and I slipped in people's blood. It was a massacre, chaos." (Capitol Police Caroline Edwards)

"January 6 is not just a protest. It represents the greatest movement to make America great again." (Former U.S. President Donald Trump)

On the 9th (local time), the House hearing to uncover the truth about the riot that occurred at the U.S. Federal Capitol on January 6 last year began. The hearing started at 8 p.m., America's prime time, and was given significant attention as most broadcasters including NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN aired it live for over two hours.

The 'January 6 Capitol riot' was an unprecedented event where supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to stop the certification of the 2020 election results and overturn the election outcome. In September last year, the House formed a bipartisan 'January 6 Select Committee' to investigate the incident over 11 months. Benny Thompson (Democrat, Mississippi), the committee chair, said in his opening remarks, "An unprecedented conspiracy to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power took place last year," adding, "Donald Trump is at the center of this conspiracy." He further stated, "The ultimate result of the attempted coup was January 6."

The riot resulted in five deaths on the day alone, and apart from the committee's investigation, judicial proceedings continue with over 700 rioters indicted. Former President Trump, who is accused of inciting the rioters by urging them to "go to the Capitol" in a speech just before the riot, still repeats claims that the election was rigged and refuses to concede defeat. Through his social media platform 'Truth Social,' Trump claimed, "January 6 is not just a protest," and "It represents the greatest movement to make America great again."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

◆From Republican Cheney to Capitol Police, a Unified Voice = At the hearing, Republican Representative Liz Cheney drew attention by accusing, "President Trump summoned and rallied the rioters and ignited this attack." Cheney is one of only two Republicans on the committee, along with Adam Kinzinger, and serves as the committee's vice chair.

Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is known as a principled politician who was ousted from her position as House Republican Conference Chair, the third-highest ranking position in the party, for opposing Trump's claims of election fraud but has not wavered in her stance. She also criticized Republican colleagues who support Trump, saying, "Trump will someday disappear, but your disgrace will be eternal."

Capitol Police officer Caroline Edwards, who was injured while trying to stop the rioters on the day, also testified as a witness. She introduced herself as the granddaughter of a Marine who fought in the Korean War and expressed that she tried every day to protect the symbol of American democracy but faced various criticisms. She also expressed hope to return to work once her traumatic brain injury is treated.

Describing the situation in detail, she said, "As a police officer and law enforcement official, I never thought I would find myself at such a scene," and added, "Officer Brian Sicknick, who died, suddenly collapsed and turned pale."

Video footage from the scene shows two men spraying chemical agents on Officer Sicknick and other officers, but the Washington medical examiner stated that Sicknick died of natural causes after suffering a stroke.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆Daughter Ivanka Draws a Line on the Riot = Ivanka Trump, daughter of former President Trump, appeared at the hearing via recorded testimony but distanced herself from the riot. In the video, she said, "I respected Attorney General William Barr," and "So I accepted his statement that the election was not fraudulent."

Earlier, former Attorney General William Barr testified in a video that he told Trump, who claimed the election was fraudulent, that it was "nonsense." He added, "I did not want to get involved in such matters."

Jared Kushner, Ivanka's husband and former senior advisor to President Trump, also testified in a separate interview that he did not take Trump's attempts to overturn the election seriously. He said, "Honestly, I just took it as him whining."

Meanwhile, the committee has summoned over 100 individuals and heard testimony from more than 1,000 witnesses. They have reviewed over 140,000 documents. The committee plans to hold eight hearings this month alone, including public hearings on the 13th and 15th. The final hearing is scheduled for September, shortly before the November midterm elections.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.