The cavernous Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill, measuring 74-feet-long by 54-feet-wide and topped by a 35-foot-high ceiling, was built in 1908 to impress. It is, of course, the scene of a series of televised hearings by the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The seventh Committee hearing, which took place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, portrayed a president, who — out of options to stay in power — summoned his most loyal supporters to Washington to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election and announcing Joe Biden the victor based on the Electoral College vote count.
Among those in attendance sitting stoically in the first row of spectators were members of law enforcement who were seriously injured as a result of the rioting, along with family members of officers who did not survive the attack.
This hearing featured two live witnesses: 39-year-old Stephen Ayres of Champion, Ohio, who pleaded guilty last month to charges related to the attack; and 47-year-old Jason Van Tatenhove of Colorodo, a former spokesman for the right-wing militia group the Oath Keepers. Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Florida) led the questioning.
The hearing also introduced for the first time the taped testimony of White House lawyer Pat Cipollone, and a groundbreaking revelation from committee vice chair Liz Cheney who announced at the very end of the hearing that former president Donald J. Trump attempted to contact a witness — a possible instance of witness tampering — after the panel’s last hearing.
View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos from inside the hearing on July 12 by clicking on the photo icons below.
Photo taken just prior to the hearing.. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Among those in attendance sitting stoically in the first row of spectators were members of law enforcement who were seriously injured as a result of the rioting, along with family members of officers who did not survive the attack. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, Chair. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Swearing in witnesses Stephen Ayres and Jason Van Tatenhove. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Swearing in witnesses Stephen Ayres and Jason Van Tatenhove. Photo by Jeff Malet.
The January 6th Committee sits. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Witnesses Stephen Ayres and Jason Van Tatenhove. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Stephen Ayres, who pleaded guilty last month to charges related to the attack. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesman for the right-wing militia group the Oath Keepers. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Witnesses Stephen Ayres and Jason Van Tatenhove. Photo by Jeff Malet.
A tweet from provocateur Ali Alexander appears on a large screen. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Jamie Raskin D- Maryland. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Among those in attendance sitting stoically in the first row of spectators were members of law enforcement who were seriously injured as a result of the rioting, along with family members of officers who did not survive the attack. Photo by Jeff Malet.
D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesman for the right-wing militia group the Oath Keepers reveals a hand tattoo. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Steve Bannon appears on a large telescreen. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Capitol Officer Michael Fanone suffered severe injuries on Jan. 6 2021. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia. Photo by Jeff Malet.
D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges offers a tissue to an emotional U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesman for the right-wing militia group the Oath Keepers. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, Chair. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming and Jamie Raskin D- Maryland. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) hugs U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell following Tuesday’s hearing. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Stephen Ayres,speaks with U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell following Tuesday’s hearing.. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Sandra Garza, partner of Brian Sicknick receives a hug from chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.