Trey Gowdy on chaos at the Capitol: ‘This case won’t be that tough to prosecute’
Former House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy weighs in on what investigators will be looking for saying there’s ‘a lot of footage’ and police officers who can identify protestors they could have seen ‘up close enough.’
Former House Oversight Committee Chairman 特里·高迪（Trey Gowdy） reflected on the “heartbreaking” violence and destruction that took place at the U.S Capitol last week on the latest episode of “The Trey Gowdy Podcast” 星期二, stressing that the rioters “ignored the law.”
In the episode titled “We Can Only Be Destroyed From Within,” the former federal prosecutor said he hopes the country returns to acting as a nation of laws.
Police in Washington, 直流电, said the security breach at the U.S. 国会大厦 resulted in five deaths, 包括一个 veteran who reportedly served four tours with the Air Force 和一个 我们. Capitol police officer who died after suffering injuries during the riots. Dozens of people were arrested and at least 14 officers were wounded during the demonstrations, 当局说.
Trump invited supporters to rally in Washington Jan. 6, saying it would be “野生,” and gave a speech where he said those rallying would march “peacefully” to the Capitol. During the speech, he repeated the unproven claim that the election was stolen from him.
Violent, pro-Trump protesters interrupted the proceedings to certify President-elect 乔·拜登的 Electoral College victory, which led to the quick recess of Wednesday’s session. 副总统 迈克·彭斯, who presided over the joint session, was rushed out of the building. All others were initially told to shelter in place and take cover.
In the latest episode, Gowdy explained the consequences of the destructive nature of the fighting amongst fellow Americans and posed the question of where the accountability lies for political leaders who misled their constituents.
“After the president’s speech a group of people marched toward the Capitol, the biggest symbol of our freedom I can think of,” Gowdy said. “I cannot think of something more emblematic of our freedom as a people than the United States Capitol.”
He noted that the group “left after listening to the president” 接着 “assaulted officers, killing one.”
“They broke windows, they destroyed property, they ignored the law,” Gowdy continued.
He went on to note, “What was said by whom and with what intent is one issue.”
“The other issue is this: Regardless of intent, the siege of the Capital began. Regardless of intent people did attack the Capitol,” 他加了.
Gowdy then asked, “When did the president and his closest advisers learn of this attack? Were they watching? Were they in close contact with people at the Capitol? 我的意思是, the vice president himself was at the Capitol. He was presiding.”
“Was there communication between the leaders of the 屋 和 参议院 和 白色的房子?” he continued to ask. “Was there communication between Capitol Police, 直流. Metro Police and Secret Service?”
TRUMP SLAMS PENCE FOR FAILING TO DECERTIFY RESULTS OF ELECTION
Gowdy also pointed out other questions, which include: “What was known? What was communicated? To whom was it communicated? Was the communication reliable, accurate, timely and what was the response?”
He stressed that “being surprised at how people reacted or acted in the aftermath of a series of speeches is one evidentiary issue.”
“Surprise is not a defense once something actually happens,” 他说.
Gowdy then said that everyone “should have an equal expectation of a fulsome answer” to the question of whether the response to “the siege of the Capitol” was timely, sufficient or delayed.
Fox News’ David Aaro and Angelica Stabile and Fox News Radio’s Jonah Blocker contributed to this report.
