Trump role in Jan. 6 riot becomes focal point at Dem convention

CHICAGO — The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, when supporters of then-President Trump forced the evacuation of Congress as it certified the results of the presidential election, was a focal point of the Democratic National Convention’s third night Wednesday. 

Several speakers gave testimonials of that day, while the Democratic National Committee offered a video showing disturbing scenes and audio of people invading the Capitol and injuring police officers.

Remarks by Trump were played against the backdrop of the video, including of the former president vowing to pardon those charged with crimes related to Jan. 6.

Speakers who recounted the day included Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the chair of the congressional panel that investigated the attack, and retired U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell. Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan also spoke.

“In this life, my father never cast a vote because of Jim Crow, so I dedicated my career to protecting the votes against violence and discrimination,” Thompson said. “You can imagine what I felt on Jan. 6, when I saw with my own eyes those insurrectionists trying to take that away. They did it to rob millions of Americans of their votes.”

Gonell said officers were “beaten and blinded,” stating that Trump “betrayed” officers.

“When I joined the Army and Capitol Police, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. I did so with duty in my soul, and I still feel it,” Gonell said to cheers, adding to “Donald Trump I ask — why don’t you?”

Gonell was among one of the many witnesses to testify before the House select committee. Trump is embroiled in four different legal probes, two of which focus on his and his allies’ efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.