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Capitol riot hearing: Officer compares Trump to ‘hitman’ as Taylor Greene presser descends into chaos

The first witnesses called before the Capitol riot hearing ( )
The first witnesses called before the Capitol riot hearing ( )

After months of buildup, today marked the first public hearing of the Select Committee to Investigate the 6 January riot at the US Capitol.

The panel heard from law officers from the US Capitol Police and Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department. “Hero” officer Harry Dunn, who led the mob away during the 6 Capitol riot, described how he and his fellow officers were subjected to a torrent of racial abuse, including the “n-word”.

Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans selected by Nancy Pelosi on the committee, called her colleagues including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz a "disgrace" for holding a counter-event to support rioters still held in prison.

The other Republican on the committee, Adam Kinzinger, broke down in tears after hearing the officers recount their experience of the day while Jamie Raskin, who lead the unsuccessful impeachment of Donald Trump, called his supporters "fascist traitors".

While Joe Biden was too busy to watch proceedings (according to Jen Psaki), Donald Trump wasted no time in bemoaning the "fake" hearing as a waste of time.

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