Newly Released Footage Reveals Tense Confrontation between GOP Congressmen and Capitol Rioters on January 6
Newly released January 6 footage reveals a tense confrontation between GOP congressmen and Capitol rioters, showcasing the gravity of the situation
The Justice Department has unveiled new footage of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, capturing a dramatic moment of rioters yelling through shattered glass at two Republican lawmakers. The video, obtained by CNN on Saturday, commemorating three years since the Capitol riot, adds to the collection of footage and personal testimonies of the violence that transpired that day, despite continued efforts by some Republican lawmakers to downplay the insurrection.
In the recently-released eight-minute video, rioters confront Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas and then-House member Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as they stand at the entrance to the House chamber, facing law enforcement with guns pointed at them. Nehls, wearing a face mask with the Texas state flag, is shown trying to communicate with the rioters, but his voice is overpowered by their shouting.
"Ive been in law enforcement in Texas for 30 years, and Ive never had people act this way,"Â Nehls shouts. "Im ashamed!"
Rioters supporting President Donald Trump gather at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. According to law enforcement officials, Taylor Taranto, a man sought for offenses linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, uprising at the U.S. Capitol, has been apprehended in the Washington neighborhood where former President Barack Obama resides. Taranto was spotted just a few blocks from the ex-president's residence and attempted to escape despite being pursued by U.S. Secret Service agents.
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Someone shouts back, "And Im ashamed of my congresspeople!"
Damon Beckley, the individual behind the video, has been convicted of obstructing the certification of the electoral college and engaging in civil disorder. Beckley is scheduled for sentencing in February. Despite ample evidence of the threats faced by lawmakers from both parties during the riot, some House GOP members are still minimizing the event, with only a few acknowledging the third anniversary without mentioning former President Donald Trump or his involvement in the events.
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, who was not serving in Congress in 2021, labeled the events at the Capitol as the "weakest insurrection" in history. He also advocated for the pardon of January 6 defendants, and incorrectly asserted that the rioters were "unarmed." He took to social media to express his belief that the messaging from the left and media is aimed at vilifying ordinary Americans and distorting the truth to gain control.
Collins' inaccurate statement that only rioter Ashli Babbitt died during the attack was refuted by a bipartisan Senate report, which found that seven individuals died in connection with the riot, and nearly 150 police officers were injured that day. Additionally, Rep. Jim Banks, a Trump ally and Indiana Senate candidate, shared Trump's January 6, 2021 tweet urging peaceful behavior at the U.S. Capitol, a post Republicans have used to argue Trump's lack of responsibility for the violence and his desire for peace.
The House January 6 select committee discovered that, as the violence unfolded on television, Trump initially ignored pleas from his aides to urge people to stay peaceful.
President Joe Biden's reelection campaign released a real-time account of the insurrection, including Trump's speech and tweets from that day, in an attempt to highlight his role in the events. This comes after President Biden stated during a campaign speech that "Trump did nothing" to stop the insurrection on January 6.
CNNs Arlette Saenz contributed to this report.
