NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Fwrd Axis) — Former President Donald Trump on Friday slammed the January 6 select committee for what he called ‘selective editing’ but did not provide evidence, while slamming former Vice President Mike Pence for not overturning the 2020 election.
Speaking at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference, Trump accused the committee of using “doctored” video and selective editing, which he says presents a warped view of the assault.
“It’s a complete and total lie; a complete and total fraud,” he said.
Trump said the committee cannot be taken seriously and said they are only showing clips of witnesses, which include his close White House aides and family members.
The former president spoke for over 90 minutes and the speech was classic Donald Trump. He raved about his accomplishments in office, slammed the ongoing investigations against him, and aired his grievances about what he feels is unfair treatment over the course of his political career.
As he has done from the moment he left office, Trump teased a possible presidential campaign in 2024.
“Would anybody like me to run for president?” he asked the crowd.
The crowd responded with applause.
With Republicans expected to win control of the House and Senate in November, Trump said the GOP should open “a full investigation into the egregious abuse of power that has taken place in the name of January 6.” He called out both Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for their places on the committee.
Despite the evidence that the committee has shown in three hearings, Trump stuck to his talking points and claimed he was not responsible for the attack on the Capitol. He said most were “parading through the Capitol” and “should not be treated the way they’re being treated.” Trump said if he becomes president again, he will consider pardoning some of the people charged in the Jan. 6 attack.
“If it were an insurrection that took place at the Capitol, you would have known it very soon,” he said. “These were strong people. These were great patriots. They were policemen, they were firemen, they were soldiers, they were sailors.”
The latest committee hearing on Thursday focused on Trump’s plan to pressure his vice president to overturn the 2020 election, putting Mike Pence’s life in danger. Once again, Trump falsely said Pence could have rejected the certification and sent the votes back to the states, citing allegations of voter fraud.
“Every indication around the Trump team is that they’re positioning to run and to run emphatically,” Timothy Head, executive director of the coalition, said in an interview. “There won’t be any apologies and there won’t be any kind of circumspection. This will be a full-bore campaign.”
