Press Releases
Questions for Congress Ahead of Hearings on Capitol Insurrection
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, government watchdog Accountable.US released a series of questions to which Americans deserve answers ahead of this week’s Senate and House committee hearings on the fallout from the seditious attacks made on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
1) How much did the Trump administration contribute to the incitement and encouragement of those attacking the Capitol?
The former president’s allies and aids directly contradicted Trump’s original posture that his reelection campaign “did not organize, operate or finance the event.” Former White House officials reported that “Trump was consumed with the event” and “he met with aides to plan the speakers, music and even staging.”
Accountable.US’s “Subsidizing Sedition” report found that at least 21 key members of the groups that helped plan the “Stop the Steal” rally leading to the Capitol riot have been Republican party operatives and/or Trump surrogates, nine of whom worked directly for Donald Trump and members of his administration.
2) This heinous attack was not a spontaneous incident led by random right-wing extremists, but rather a coordinated effort years in the making by major conservative donors, corporations, and others benefitting from radicalization. Will the federal government and security agencies pledge to crack down on the companies and organizations that aided and funded the insurrectionists?
Last month, the Wall Street Journal disclosed more than $350,000 in donations or pledged donations from Alex Jones, far-right radio show host and conspiracy theorist, and Julie Jenkins Fancelli, heiress to the Publix Super Markets Inc. chain, to the “Stop the Steal” rally.
Accountable.US’s analysis found that at least 43 governors, senators, and members of Congress had ties to groups that fueled the insurrection. A recent report from the watchdog group discovered that major corporations, including FedEx and Wells Fargo, gave Senator Josh Hawley, a leading promoter of the conspiratorial election fraud claims, over $12,000 in campaign contributions.
3) Was there coordination between the insurrectionists and Secret Service agents, Capitol Police, or other law enforcement agencies?
Just this week, Capitol Police suspended six officers — with an additional 29 officers still under investigation — for their involvement with the insurrection. Additionally, a leader of one of the far-right movements involved with the riot alleges she met with Secret Service agents prior to the attack.
Accountable.US called for an investigation into how the white supremacists were able to enter the U.S. Capitol and why it took so long for law enforcement agencies to restore order.
4) As additional information regarding law enforcement agencies’ involvement with the insurrection comes forth, will there be further hearings and investigations into whom incited, aided, and funded the attack?
For more information regarding the groups behind the rally, Accountable.US’s “Subsidizing Sedition” project is exposing the corporations, elected officials, political groups, and others closely associated with the movement that led to the deadly and seditious Capitol coup attempt on January 6th.
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