The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attacks on Capitol Hill held its fourth hearing. 
Cheddar News speaks with legal and political analyst Tracy Pearson, who breaks down the biggest takeaways. 


Cheddar's News Wrap

Biggest Takeaways Of the Fourth Jan. 6 Hearing

now the House select committee investigating the january 6th attack on the U. S. Capitol by a pro trump mob last year, held its fourth hearing today for the past two weeks. The committee has made a case that trump was responsible for the deadly attack. Me now is Tracy, Pearson, legal and political analyst and Tracy in The earlier hearings. The committee focused on the violence that took place at the Capitol on January six and trump's efforts to force vice president mike pence to reject state electoral votes. But what was the main goal today? It's great to see you. Thank you for having me. The thrust of today's hearing was impact. What was the impact on state officials and on average americans elect election workers that that work as poll workers and and really the message from today was this that the president, his staff and his campaign in an attempt to cajole to coerce their assistance in overturning a fair election. What happened was that they were placed in mortal danger as were their families for refusing to cave now today multiple republicans and most from Georgia and Arizona testified that trump lost both the states to president biden. But what did they have to say about the former president and his campaign? Yes that was captivating testimony and and frankly, you know in prior hearings I have I have been won over by one or one or more witnesses here. Every witness was captivating and I encourage people to watch what they were saying was that first of all that they were supporters of donald trump during the election that they wanted to see him win, but that he was asking them to violate their oath of office and their duty to the constitution and their testimony was beyond fascinating. I want to ask when it comes to the, the rusty bowers among the Arizona lawmakers who received an email from jenny thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice. Clarence thomas pressuring to block biden's victory. Has this been brought up at all? Will she make an appearance during the hearings? You know, that remains to be seen. I mean, miss thomas, she, she talks a talk whether that's good, bad or ugly about wanting to come in and to clarify or to um, to, to make sure that people understand her perspective. But so far that remains to be seen. I do think however, that the image of jenny thomas sitting for investigators answering questions about her possible involvement in an insurrection or in the attempt to uh, impede the official government proceedings of passing one, you know, passing a one president to another. In other words, the presidency peacefully from one president to another will leave an incredibly indelible image. So I'm finding it very hard to believe that she is going to come in, but I could be wrong. So the committee has trust the fact that it's witnesses are republicans who wanted trump to win. They kept saying that. So what message are they trying to send by having these folks testify to the democrats and to the republicans? What they're sending for a message is that there are still people out there, small group, but still people out there that are willing to stand up for our democracy. Uh and to stand up to what is frankly thuggery. Um they are willing to speak out even though they exist in a toxic political environment where by speaking out, they are being placed in in both political and physical danger. Now a lot of folks were thinking this hearing might not be as exciting as the other ones because we were just talking about the political pressure that these politicians had faced. But from hearing from normal folks, ruby and her daughter speaking about the way they were treated after they were telling votes what kind of I guess residents did you think folks fell after hearing them? You know, I found her to be just compelling. Her daughter was was so emotional and so afraid to be there testifying. Um these folks have lost their names, they've lost their reputations. Um MS Freeman herself as she calls herself Lady ruby. She was forced out of her home for approximately two months because the FBI approached her and said that she would not be safe there. So these folks have endured. And one of the things that she brought up was that the president is supposed to be the president of all people and instead she was targeted and targeted for reasons that were false Tracy Pearson. legal and political analyst. Thank you so much for bringing this down for us and taking into a deep dive with us as well. We appreciate your time Tracy. Thanks again.