Adam Kinzinger's Opening Statement on the 5th Anniversary of January 6th Attack

The January 6th Attack and Its Aftermath

• ⚠️ The speaker expresses shock that a plaque commemorating the January 6th attack has not yet been erected, suggesting it be doubled in size.
• 🎯 It is stated that on January 6th, the president decided America's legacy of transfer of power was beneath him and sent a mob to the Capitol to try and rob Americans of their votes.
• 💔 The violence of January 6th is described as vicious and wrong, with threats to democracy continuing to the present day.

Manufactured Realities and Conspiracy Theories

• 🧠 A persisting threat to the nation lies in how Donald Trump and his allies have manufactured alternate realities of conspiracies to support their siege of democracy.
• 🤥 These conspiracies began before January 6th, with Trump touting the "big lie" to undercut trust in elections the moment he realized he could lose.
• 🚫 The claim that the election was stolen due to widespread voter fraud has been unequivocally disproven by independent agencies, Trump's own advisors, and over 60 courts.
• 🗣️ Despite debunked claims, Trump continues to spin narratives, even lying to a child on Christmas Eve about winning Pennsylvania in 2020.

Whitewashing and Minimizing the Attack

• 🎭 Supporters spread narratives that minimize Trump's role, such as claiming Capitol Police opened doors or that the attack was sudden and unpredictable.
• 🚫 Evidence shows extremist groups planned attacks for weeks, and Trump sent rioters to the Capitol.
• ❌ The theory that Antifa orchestrated the violence is debunked, with evidence pointing to groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

Trump's Role and Accountability

• 📺 Donald Trump sat in the White House for 187 minutes watching the attack unfold, exacerbating the situation with a tweet targeting Vice President Pence.
• ⚖️ Trump has called January 6th defendants political prisoners and hostages, a narrative shift that began when media organizations started portraying them as victims.
• 🚔 Trump pardoned individuals who beat, kicked, punched, and pepper-sprayed over 140 law enforcement officers, not just non-violent offenders.

The Ongoing Battle for Truth

• ❓ The speaker addresses why they continue to discuss January 6th, stating that real accountability and deterrence have not been achieved.
• 🇺🇸 The rewriting of January 6th is deemed un-American, and the purpose of the hearing is to safeguard democracy and call out corruption.
• 📚 The January 6th Committee served as the only living record of events, as the DOJ was allegedly prevented from finishing its investigation by the president.
• ✅ The speaker is proud of the committee's work and guarantees that future generations will know the truth of what happened.