Rep. Nancy Pelosi's Opening Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the January 6th Attack

The January 6th Insurrection

• 💡 The hearing marks the 5th anniversary of the January 6th attack, an event described as an insurrection incited by the President.
• ⚠️ The attack involved flying the Confederate flag under Lincoln's dome, an insult to American resilience and democracy.
• 💔 The event caused significant trauma to members of Congress and their families, as well as idealistic young staff.

Actions and Inactions of the President

• 🚫 The President refused to send the National Guard for over 3 hours, despite repeated pleas, and even took joy in this inaction.
• 🤥 The President continues to lie about his actions and the events of that day, contradicting sworn testimony from his own Acting Secretary of Defense.
• 🏛️ The President's actions are seen as an insult to the American people, the founders, and the Constitution.

Courage and Resilience of Congress

• 👏 Despite the threat and chaos, members of Congress, including those who testified, showed immense courage by returning to the floor that night.
• 🛡️ The actions of law enforcement officers like Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, Eugene Goodman, Michael Fanone, Daniel Hodges, and Caroline Edwards, along with the National Guard, saved lives and protected members.
• ✅ Congress ultimately proceeded to certify the election results, honoring their oaths of office and demonstrating the survival of democracy.

The Role of the January 6th Committee

• 🔍 The January 6th Committee played a crucial role in documenting the events and the destruction that occurred.
• 🗣️ The committee's work ensured the public would know the truth, especially given the President's continued dissemination of misinformation.

Hope for Democracy

• 🌱 The speaker expresses belief in the goodness of the American people, which provides hope for moving forward stronger.
• 🇺🇸 The times have found the current generation, as they found founders and Lincoln, to save American democracy.