Jan. 6 panel hears how Trump was 'detached from reality'
4 Min Read
People who were closest to Trump were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of Jan. 6 and describing how he appeared "detached from reality".
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Jan. 6 panel hears how Trump was 'detached from reality
Those closest to Trump were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of Jan. 6 and describing how he appeared "detached from reality," according to the committee investigating the Capitol attack.
Read more: Trump calls Capitol insurrection "hoax" a week before public hearings
The panel is setting out how Trump rejected his own campaign team's statistics as one state after another turned to Joe Biden, instead of latching on to conspiracy theories, legal fights, and his own assertions of victory rather than conceding the loss.
His "big lie" about election fraud ultimately led to the insurrection on January 6.
During his interview, former Attorney General William Barr testified that "he's become detached from reality if he really believes this stuff," adding that he wanted no part of it.
He recalled how Trump was "as mad as I'd ever seen him," when he told him that the Justice Department would not take sides in the election.
Read more: FBI arrests Republican candidate for Michigan governor over Jan. 6
The witnesses on Monday, all Republicans and many of whom spoke in taped recordings, detailed Trump's refusal to listen to people closest to him, including his family members, in frank and sometimes irritating words. The President selected his side as the individuals surrounding him broke into "team normal" led by former campaign manager Bill Stepien and others led by Trump confidant Rudy Giuliani.
Stepien detailed how Trump was "growing increasingly unhappy" with results the night of the election.
His son-in-law Jared Kushner allegedly attempted to veer him away from theories of voter fraud as well but to no avail.
The former President continued to allege instances of voter fraud and called hearings "ridiculous and treasonous," describing the insurrection as the right of Americans to "hold their elected officials accountable."
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., started the hearing on Monday by saying Trump "betrayed the confidence of the American people" and "tried to remain in office when people had voted him out."
As the hearings unfold for the public, one of the most significant observers is Attorney General Merrick Garland, who must determine whether his agency can and should pursue Trump. No president, current or previous, has ever faced such an indictment.
At a press briefing at the Justice Department, Garland stated Monday that he would be watching the hearings and so would prosecutors.
Stepien was supposed to be a major in-person witness on Monday but had to cancel due to his wife going into delivery. Stepien, who remains close to Trump, has been summoned to testify.
He is currently a major campaign consultant to Trump-endorsed House candidate Harriet Hageman, who is running in the Wyoming Republican primary against committee vice-chair Rep. Liz Cheney.
After a morning rush and delay, the panel proceeded, with witness after witness stating Trump embraced and repeated his assertions about the election, despite those closest to him telling him the notions of stolen ballots or manipulated voting machines were just untrue.
Stepien and senior advisor Jason Miller detailed how the joyous atmosphere at the White House on Election Night became gloomy after Fox News declared Trump had lost the state of Arizona to Joe Biden, and how aides worked to advise Trump on what to do next.
But he rejected their advice, instead of listening to Giuliani, who numerous witnesses characterized as drunk. Giuliani delivered a blanket denial on Monday, calling out "all falsehoods" about him.
According to Stepien, “My belief, my recommendation was to say that votes were still being counted, it’s too early to tell, too early to call the race.”
Meanwhile, he recalls Trump simply accusing him of being wrong.
Yesterday, the members of the House committee said they had found enough evidence to criminally indict Trump.
