Jan. 6 Committee Conducts Last Hearing Before Midterms

Facts

• After a three-month break, the US House Jan. 6 committee on Thursday met for its last reported hearing before the midterms. Focused primarily on Trump's mindset, the panel covered topics such as Trump's plans to declare victory before all ballots were counted and his alleged acknowledgment of losing despite publicly claiming victory.
• The committee unveiled an email from the head of Judicial Watch, Tom Fitton, to former Trump assistants urging the former president to declare victory based on the ballots counted on election day while disregarding incoming mail-in ballots. Committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) called it evidence of a "premeditated plan."
• The committee also revealed new evidence related to the Secret Service's knowledge of threats before the riot. Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asserted that the Secret Service was aware of threats and had reports of armed protesters on Jan. 6, but neither changed its plans on protecting the president or vice president.
• Committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) detailed a memo - described by committee witness testimony- Trump signed after the election that called for the withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan and Somalia. Kinzinger claimed it was a move only an outgoing president would make.
• Committee member Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) covered the topic of voting machines, showing video of top Justice Dept. officials, campaign aids, and advisors testifying that they told Trump his fraudulent ballot theories were baseless. Video of Trump continuing to spread the theory in his "Stop the Steal" speech was then played.
• The nine-member committee ended the hearing by voting unanimously to subpoena Trump. Committee co-Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who proposed the vote, said that of the roughly 30 witnesses who have so far pleaded the Fifth Amendment, several did so in direct response to questions surrounding their dealings with Trump.

Sources: LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post, FOX News, Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by The Washington Post. Make no mistake - what's on the ballot in November is democracy itself. The Jan. 6 Committee has issued this dire warning to the American people by taking the extraordinary step of issuing a subpoena to Trump. The Democrats are putting "Stop the Steal" under the most intense limelight it can - in a few weeks voters must cast ballots for legislators, governors, and secretaries of state in one of the most crucial contests in American history.
• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by FOX News. The Democrats know that they are in deep trouble as the midterms approach. Inflation is sky-high, the southern border is out of control, and the Left's Jan. 6 witch hunt is full of fallacies. The thought of subpoenaing Trump is intended to be political theater from the Democrats, but - to their demise - the former President may be delighted to take the mic and speak the truth.

Predictions