Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 First Public Jan. 6th Hearing Lays Groundwork For What’s To Come
We’ve gotten our first look at what the House Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 insurrection as the first hearing was televised last night. Opening a primetime hearing, Committee chairman, Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson, called Capitol rioters "domestic enemies of the Constitution" who tried to stop the formal congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election. He also called it a brazen attempted coup. During the hearing: A previously unseen video showed police being overwhelmed by mobs of rioters. Thompson said police were "bloodied and broken." Committee co-chair Liz Cheney accused now-former President Trump of orchestrating the attack. The Wyoming Republican said Trump "summoned the mob, assembled the mob and lit the flame" that prompted the assault on the Capitol. Cheney argued that rioters were motivated by what Trump had told them, that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen. The hearing featured a video clip of former Attorney General Bill Barr threw cold water on Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud. There was also video of the deposition from former First Daughter Ivanka Trump – who said she actually believed Barr’s position, saying she “respected him.” Also testifying, the first Capitol Police officer injured in the assault described the scene as a "war zone" with widespread "carnage (and) chaos." Caroline Edwards said there was so much blood she was "slipping in blood." She suffered a traumatic brain injury, but kept battling rioters until she was sprayed in the eyes with a chemical agent. British filmmaker Nick Quested also testified – as he was embedded with the Proud Boys group…and it’s his footage that has laid much the foundation for the tempo of the events of that day.
2 Workplace Shooting In Maryland Leaves Three Dead
Law enforcement in Washington County are investigating a deadly mass shooting at the Columbia Machine, Inc manufacturing facility. Authorities say that shots were fired yesterday afternoon in Smithsburg claiming the lives of three-men and critically wounding another. A state trooper was also hurt a short distance away from the scene trying to stop the suspect. Still, officers were able to arrest the man after a brief shootout. Detectives believe the shooter was an employee of the Columbia Machine facility, though they haven’t released a motive as yet. The Washington County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate and no charges have been filed at this time – and that’s why the suspect hasn’t been named, though officials say it’s a 23-year-old male.
3 Uvalde Investigation: Some Of The Children Were Alive
A Texas House committee is promising to get answers regarding the recent school shooting in Uvalde. The Texas House Investigative Committee held its first meeting yesterday and is vowing to not rush the probe. Department of Public Safety Director Colonel Steven McCraw has said school district police made mistakes by waiting about an hour to go inside the classroom where the 18-year-old gunman was holed up. But what’s most disturbing about the 21 lives lost? Apparently, more than a dozen students remained alive for over an hour before officers entered their classrooms. According to a new report, scene commander Chief Pete Arredondo feared a risk to officers’ lives - though he's now publicly saying that he wasn't aware that he was the scene commander...and that he couldn't get a key to the room where the shooter was. The Justice Department is also investigating the police response.