Biden says Jan. 6 committee made an ‘overwhelming’ case


Washington
CNN

President Joe Biden said Saturday that the video and testimony shared at this week’s Jan. 6 hearing were “devastating” and said the committee had an “overwhelming” case overall.

Biden, who made a surprise stop at Baskin-Robbins in Portland, Ore., was asked what he thought of the hearing: “I think the testimony and the video were absolutely devastating. I Been going out of my way to comment to see what happens, but it’s just — I think it’s devastating.”

The final hearing before the midterm elections of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol revealed new evidence and testimony from former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who said at the time President Donald Trump knows he has lost his re-election bid even as he continues his efforts to overturn the result.

Thursday’s hearing included footage of congressional leaders scrambling to respond to the Capitol attack by working with Trump and coordinating with other federal and local government officials to stem the ongoing violence and new evidence that Trump plans to declare victory . election results.

“I mean, the case is open, and it’s pretty overwhelming in my opinion,” Biden said Saturday.

Saturday’s comments were an escalating rebuke from the president, who made irregular comments on Jan. 6.

Biden, who has often said he would not interfere with the Justice Department’s independence, declined to comment further and reiterated that he “has not at all” spoken to Attorney General Merrick Garland on the matter.

On Thursday, the Jan. 6 committee also voted in a rare vote to subpoena Trump for documents and testimony. The former president is not expected to comply with the subpoena, but the action is a way for the committee to set a flag that it wants information directly from Trump as the panel investigates the attack.

The select committee’s investigation is working towards a final report, although it’s unclear what form it will take or when it will be released. The panel has yet to make any decisions on whether to make any criminal referrals to the Justice Department, the sources said.

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