Already Distorting the Events of Jan. 6, the G.O.P. Now Aims to Turn Them on Their Head

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News analysis

A caller mentation of the onslaught amounts to a disinformation run aimed astatine giving screen to the enactment and intensifying the threats to governmental accountability.

House Republicans, led by Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, held a quality    league  extracurricular  the Capitol connected  Thursday.
Credit...T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times

Lisa LererNicholas Fandos

July 31, 2021, 10:16 a.m. ET

In the hours and days aft the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the Capitol, rattled Republican lawmakers knew precisely who was to blame: Donald J. Trump. Loyal allies began turning connected him. Top Republicans vowed to marque a afloat interruption from his divisive tactics and dishonesties. Some adjacent discussed removing him from office.

By spring, however, aft astir 200 legislature Republicans had voted to wide Mr. Trump during a 2nd impeachment proceeding, the blimpish fringes of the enactment had already begun to rewrite history, describing the Capitol riot arsenic a peaceful protestation and comparing the invading mob to a “normal tourer visit,” arsenic 1 congressman enactment it.

This past week, amid the affectional testimony of constabulary officers astatine the archetypal proceeding of a House prime committee, Republicans completed their travel done the looking-glass, spinning a caller counternarrative of that deadly day. No longer contented to absolve Mr. Trump, they concocted a mentation of events successful which accused rioters were patriotic governmental prisoners and Speaker Nancy Pelosi was to blasted for the violence.

Their caller claims, immoderate voiced from the highest levels of House Republican leadership, magnitude to a disinformation run being promulgated from the steps of the Capitol, aimed astatine giving screen to their enactment and intensifying the threats to governmental accountability.

This rendering of events — unneurotic with caller grounds that Mr. Trump had counted connected allies successful Congress to assistance him usage a baseless allegation of corruption to overturn the election — pointed to what immoderate ideology experts spot arsenic a unsafe caller motion successful American politics: Even with Mr. Trump gone from the White House, galore Republicans person small volition of abandoning the prevarication that was a hallmark of his presidency.

Rather, arsenic the state struggles with the consequences of Mr. Trump’s battle connected the legitimacy of the nation’s elections, leaders of his enactment — who, dissimilar the erstwhile president, person not mislaid their governmental oregon rhetorical platforms — are signaling their willingness to continue, look past oregon adjacent grow his battle connected the facts for governmental gain.

The improvement is not uniquely American.

“This is happening each implicit the spot — it is truthful overmuch linked to the antiauthoritarian backsliding and rising of authoritarian movements,” said Laura Thornton, the manager of the Alliance for Securing Democracy astatine the German Marshall Fund of the United States. “It’s astir the aforesaid benignant of post-truth world. You tin conscionable repetition a prevarication implicit and implicit and, due to the fact that there’s truthful small trust, radical volition judge it.”

Behind the Republican clasp of disinformation is simply a calculus of some ambition and self-preservation. With members of the prime committee hinting that they could subpoena Trump aides, allies connected Capitol Hill and possibly Mr. Trump himself, the counterfactual counterattack could pre-emptively undercut an probe of the riot.

As videos shown during the proceeding gave harrowing caller reminders of the day’s violence, starring House Republicans claimed that Ms. Pelosi — a people of the mob — had been warned astir the unit successful beforehand but failed to forestall it.

From his backstage nine successful New Jersey, Mr. Trump suggested that Ms. Pelosi should “investigate herself,” yet again falsely insinuating that antifa and Black Lives Matter — not his followers — caused the demolition connected Jan. 6 and that a democratically decided predetermination had been stolen from him.

All the while, successful the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the apical Republican, who erstwhile led his enactment successful condemning some the riot and Mr. Trump’s role successful it, made nary disposable effort to halt the flood of fabrications, telling reporters helium had not watched the proceeding and had small caller to accidental astir the astir convulsive onslaught connected the Capitol since the War of 1812.

House Republicans’ tendency to hide the onslaught connected their ain workplace has created a dysfunctional governing atmosphere. Ms. Pelosi has progressively treated them arsenic a pariah party, unworthy of collaboration oregon trust, and has expressed heavy disdain for Representative Kevin McCarthy, the number leader, whom she called a “moron” this past week.

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transcript

transcript

Day of Rage: An In-Depth Look astatine How a Mob Stormed the Capitol

A six-month Times probe has synchronized and mapped retired thousands of videos and constabulary vigor communications from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, providing the astir implicit representation to day of what happened — and why.

“I pledge allegiance to the emblem of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, 1 nation, nether God, indivisible, with liberty and justness for all.” [cheering] They came from each 50 states retired of immoderate consciousness of patriotic work … “It’s truthful overmuch much than conscionable rallying for President Trump. It’s truly rallying for our mode of life. The American dream, against fake news.” … to protestation an predetermination they believed had been stolen. “Stop the steal! Stop the steal!” “We’re here, patriots. We’re successful Washington D.C. Capitol gathering dormant successful beforehand of us.” Their time of enactment would beryllium Jan. 6 … “The House comes to order.” … erstwhile Congress would number electoral ballots and ratify the 2020 predetermination results. For some, it was conscionable a rally for their president. For others, it was a telephone to arms. “We person the powerfulness successful numbers. March connected Congress straight aft Trump’s speech.” In the weeks beforehand, determination were implicit a cardinal mentions connected societal media of storming the Capitol. Maps were shared of the building’s layout. There was speech of bringing weapons and ammunition, and treatment implicit which lawmakers should beryllium targeted first. This choler was based connected a lie. “This predetermination was a fraud.” A prevarication that had grown much frenzied aft the election. “President Trump won this election.” “They were flipping votes.” “Steal the predetermination successful Philadelphia.” “When you triumph successful a landslide and they —” “Steal the predetermination successful Atlanta —” “And it’s rigged —” “Steal the predetermination successful Milwaukee —” “It’s not acceptable.” “This is outrageous.” A prevarication dispersed by the president and his closest allies. “Let’s telephone retired cheating erstwhile we find it.” Some of whom stoked calls for violence. “All hellhole is going to interruption escaped tomorrow.” “Everyone’s going to retrieve who really stands successful the breach and fights tomorrow. And who goes moving disconnected similar a chicken.” “We bleed freedom.” “This volition beryllium their Waterloo.” “And we volition sacrifice for freedom.” “This volition beryllium their destruction.” “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” What happened adjacent was chaos. “They broke the glass?” Insurrection. “Take it now!” “Treason! Treason!” Death. Then, determination began a run to whitewash history, starting astatine the top. “It was a zero threat. Right from the start, it was zero threat.” And spreading passim the Republican Party. “Even calling it an insurrection, It wasn’t. By and large, it was peaceful protest.” One lawmaker, who helped barricade the House doors, present suggests determination was hardly immoderate threat. “If you didn’t cognize the TV footage was a video from January the 6th, you would really deliberation it was a mean tourer visit.” A tourer sojourn this was not. And the impervious is successful the footage. As portion of a six-month investigation, The New York Times has collected and forensically analyzed thousands of videos, astir filmed by the rioters themselves. We obtained interior constabulary vigor postulation … … and went to tribunal to unseal constabulary body-cam footage. Our reconstruction shows the Capitol riot for what it was, a convulsive battle encouraged by the president connected a spot of ideology that helium vowed to protect. We’ll illustration however constabulary leaders failed to heed warnings of an impending attack, putting rank-and-file officers successful danger. We’ll way cardinal instigators successful the mob taking vantage of weaknesses successful the Capitol’s defenses to ignite a question of unit that engulfed the building. We’ll show, for the archetypal time, the galore simultaneous points of attack, and the 8 breaches of what appeared to beryllium an impenetrable instauration of government. We’ll amusement however the hold to unafraid Congress apt outgo a rioter her life. And however for some, storming the Capitol was portion of the plan, each along. “In fact, tomorrow, I don’t adjacent similar to accidental it due to the fact that I’ll beryllium arrested.” “Well, let’s not accidental it. We request to spell — I’ll accidental it.” “All right.” “We request to spell successful to the Capitol.” “Let’s go!” It’s the greeting of Jan. 6, and thousands are filling the National Mall successful Washington. Trump volition talk present astatine the Ellipse, a ample parkland adjacent the White House and a half-hour locomotion to the U.S. Capitol wherever the predetermination volition beryllium certified. Who is really successful this crowd? Most are mean citizens who judge Trump’s prevarication that the predetermination was stolen. “It’s going to beryllium a large day. It’s going to beryllium wild, arsenic Trump says.” But we besides spot much utmost groups who’ve gained a pursuing during Trump’s presidency. There are followers of the QAnon conspiracy … “Drinking their blood, eating our babies.” … who judge that Trump is facing down a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles. Q posts often invoked notions of patriotism and foretell a coming storm. And up of Jan. 6, immoderate supporters telephone for violence. The Oath Keepers, a far-right paramilitary group, are besides here. “We person men already stationed extracurricular D.C. —” Their person has said the radical is acceptable to travel Trump’s orders and instrumentality members of what they telephone the “Deep State” into custody. They’re organized, staging their military-style instrumentality neatly connected the ground. And later, they enactment connected assemblage armor, speech connected radios, and chat with their supporters connected a walkie-talkie app called Zello. “We person a bully group. We got astir 30, 40, of america who are sticking unneurotic and sticking to the plan. Y’all, we’re 1 artifact distant from the Capitol, now. I’m astir apt going to spell soundless erstwhile I get determination due to the fact that I’m going to beryllium a small busy.” Another radical is the Proud Boys. They’re far-right nationalists who flashed achromatic powerfulness signs passim the day. “Check retired each this testosterone.” They became a household sanction erstwhile Trump invoked them during a statesmanlike debate. “Proud Boys, basal backmost and basal by.” And that’s what they did. They person a past of thoroughfare unit and volition beryllium cardinal instigators of the riot. We’ll instrumentality to them soon. Although the rally is billed arsenic a governmental protest, immoderate marque calls to tempest the Capitol adjacent earlier Trump speaks. And later, erstwhile Trump does instrumentality the signifier … “We’re going to locomotion down to the Capitol.” … immoderate perceive his words arsenic a telephone to action. “I cognize that everyone present volition soon beryllium marching implicit to the Capitol building.” Two hours earlier this, the Proud Boys were already heading for the Capitol. They’re intelligibly spoiling for a combat with far-left agitators similar antifa, who they judge are successful D.C. But determination are moments that suggest different motive. “Come on, tighten up.” “Come on, boys. They’re organized, too. Many are marked with orangish portion oregon hats. They’re wearing assemblage armor, carrying shot bats and utilizing radios. “That’s affirmative. Jesse, this is Tucker” Leading them is Ethan Nordean, who’s been entrusted with alleged warfare powers. He’s joined by different well-known Proud Boys similar Joe Biggs, an organizer from Florida, Dominic Pezzola, a erstwhile Marine, and Billy Chrestman. They volition beryllium among the archetypal rioters wrong the Capitol building. “Proud Boys.” As Trump is speaking, immoderate of his different supporters besides caput to the Capitol. Chanting: “Whose streets? Our streets! Whose streets? Our streets!” And the code is becoming menacing. “And we’re going to tempest the [expletive] Capitol. [expletive] you, [expletive].” “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” Just ahead, officers guarding the gathering are understaffed and ill-equipped for what’s coming their way. “You going to halt us?” The gathering is much than 2 shot fields successful length. And barricades erected connected the eastbound broadside are defended by conscionable a fewer twelve officers. The westbound side, facing Trump’s rally, is adjacent lighter. The fencing has been extended and connected the northwest approach, lone 5 officers basal guard. Around 5 besides support the southwest approach, a fewer much dot the tract and astir a twelve officers are down them. Plans to tempest the Capitol were made successful plain sight, but the F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security did not deem those threats arsenic credible. “We volition instrumentality that building!” “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” Capitol Police leaders and Washington’s politician were warned astatine slightest 3 times of convulsive threats, but besides didn’t instrumentality them earnestly oregon circulate that information. And they declined offers of information unit from national and different agencies. They could person enlisted respective 100 much Capitol constabulary for work connected Jan. 6, but did not. And nary of the officers connected the barricades person protective cogwheel oregon crowd-control equipment. As a result, the Capitol is sparsely defended. “Whose House? Our House! Whose House? Our House!” It’s 12:50 p.m. and a ample radical of Proud Boys is with different protesters close by the Capitol Police line. Joe Biggs is rallying them. When he’s approached by Ryan Samsel, a Trump protagonist from Pennsylvania. They chat, we don’t cognize astir what. But a infinitesimal later, Samsel is the archetypal to attack the constabulary line. And it’s present that the protestation turns violent. “U.S.A.!” Without hesitation, the assemblage overpowers the police. Nearby, a 2nd radical breaks done connected different approach. Others leap fences. And present hundreds of rioters unreserved guardant connected respective fronts. “D.C. is simply a [expletive] warfare zone.” Police retreat to the Capitol gathering wherever it’s becoming much threatening. “This is what we came for! Yeah!” A mob mentality begins to instrumentality hold. Police are truthful outnumbered, they’re forced to retreat again to much tightly support entree points to the Capitol. It’s present 5 minutes into the siege that the Capitol Police main calls for backup from section instrumentality enforcement, known arsenic the Metropolitan Police, and asks different Capitol leaders to mobilize the National Guard. “You took an oath! Does that not mean a damn happening to you, does it?” Metro Police volition get wrong 15 minutes. But for reasons we’ll explicate later, the National Guard won’t get for implicit 4 hours. “Back up! Back up!” Meanwhile, much Capitol Police travel to reenforce the line. It’s the archetypal clip we spot officers successful riot gear. But astir are missing their shields due to the fact that they had not prepared to unlock the retention country wherever that instrumentality is kept. Proud Boys similar Billy Chrestman support rallying the mob. And again, they commencement brawling with the police. Minutes later, reinforcements from the Metro Police arrive. A high-ranking Metro serviceman instantly calls for much backup. They conflict to subdue rioters who respond with their ain chemic spray. And wrong 30 minutes, the constabulary already person casualties. [shouting] This archetypal question of rioters battling constabulary has paved the mode crossed Capitol grounds for others to follow. And aft Trump finishes speaking, thousands much present capable the space. Meanwhile, wrong the Capitol, Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence person begun certifying the 2020 statesmanlike predetermination results. Certification volition hap connected some sides of the building, successful the House and the Senate. And this is what the rioters privation to stop. An hr into the assault, the mob is battling a constabulary enactment here, on the westbound look of the Capitol. But that unit is present going to dispersed to aggregate points of attack, arsenic westbound broadside rioters watercourse astir the Capitol and incite the assemblage connected the east. Here’s what that assemblage looks similar connected the east. “Stop the steal! Stop the steal! Stop the steal!” They’re alert of the siege happening connected the westbound side, and immoderate are emboldened by it. But up until now, they’ve been kept down the barricades. “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” Then this radical from the westbound storms astir to the gathering and pushes close done the barriers. The constabulary present hardly enactment up a fight. And it’s present that protesters, each on the eastbound barricades, surge forward. [cheering] Officers are overwhelmed from respective directions, and retreat to defender Capitol entrances. But these rioters judge they’ve been deputized by their president to halt a crime. And now, they commencement trying to get into the gathering itself. [shouting] [glass breaking] [pounding connected door] The Capitol is present surrounded. Rioters haven’t made it wrong yet, but astir the clip that the mob connected the eastbound pushed forward, rioters connected the westbound were making a pivotal move. This scaffolding was erected for the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden. It covers a staircase that gives nonstop entree to an precocious level, and dozens of doors and windows. Three constabulary lines defender that route. But astatine crushed level, officers are truthful overwhelmed that conscionable a fewer screen this important entree point. Several Proud Boys spot the weakness. Proud Boys commencement warring the police, and with others successful the mob, they propulsion done the line. Over respective minutes, it’s a brutal combat connected these steps. At 1 point, the rioters are held back. [groaning] But they marque a last propulsion up the formation of stairs. [cheering] At the top, they scuffle again with a tiny radical of officers … … who springiness successful aft hardly a minute. The mob present has nonstop entree to Capitol entrances. “I can’t judge this is reality. We accomplished this [expletive].” And hundreds much protesters below, surge forward. “Let’s go! The siege is ours.” It’s utter mayhem, and it’s astir to get worse. This country is being filmed from countless angles allowing america to portion together, infinitesimal by moment, what comes next. Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola uses a constabulary shield helium stole to bash successful a window. And astatine 2:13 p.m., the Capitol is breached. Michael Sparks, a Trump protagonist from Kentucky, is the archetypal idiosyncratic inside. A constabulary serviceman seems unsure of what to bash and backs off. Sparks is followed by Proud Boys and different far-right extremists, 1 carrying a Confederate flag, different equipped with a shot bat. When rioters interruption unfastened the locked doors, hundreds much unreserved in. [shouting] [glass breaking] This is simply a captious moment. Officers indispensable present support the extracurricular and wrong of the building, stretching them adjacent further. Simultaneous events present hap that are captious to lawmakers’ safety. Rioters caput consecutive for the Senate, and volition beryllium astatine its doors successful 2 minutes. Above them, the Senate is called into recess. “We’ll pause.” Members volition evacuate down these stairs. In this hallway, straight overhead the rioters, Officer Eugene Goodman is sprinting to overtake them. He passes Mitt Romney, who helium warns to crook around. Reinforcements are pursuing behind. Goodman overtakes the mob, goes downstairs and intercepts them. He holds them disconnected portion backup arrives upstairs. Behind these rioters, and conscionable feet away, is an flight way wherever the lawmakers and Senate unit are present fleeing. Just 1 serviceman stands guard. Keeping his composure, Goodman draws the mob distant from that flight way to wherever reinforcements are waiting. Goodman: “Second floor!” He glances toward the Senate, and realizes the doorway is unguarded. Goodman shoves the protester again, lures the mob away, and brings them into that enactment of chap officers. Again, the rioters present are convinced it’s their work to support democracy. “We’re not [expletive] around! Because we are mad!” [shouting] The officers clasp them disconnected here, for now. Meanwhile, connected the different broadside of the Capitol, a fewer governmental leaders are evacuated from the House of Representatives. But contempt a lockdown alert, proceedings present volition resume. “The House volition beryllium successful order.” We’ll spell determination soon. First, we’ll spell to the Crypt successful the halfway of the Capitol beneath the Rotunda. The mob is already astatine its entrance. If they get done here, they volition much easy instrumentality retired crossed the building. Rioters jostle with constabulary present for six minutes, and past flood through. It’s present 2:24 p.m., immoderate 90 minutes aft the siege began, and the mob is astir to overrun the building. “Stop the steal! Stop the steal!” As this is happening, and arsenic thousands much swell outside, Trump composes a tweet. Not to calm his supporters, but to blasted his vice president. He writes: At this precise time, Pence and his household are being taken to safety, on with an adjutant who’s carrying the country’s atomic motorboat equipment. “O accidental does that star-spangled banner yet wave?” At 2:25 p.m., there’s different large breach connected the other broadside of the building, the eastbound side. Rioters person been battling a fistful of officers astatine these doors for astir fractional an hour. The tide turns erstwhile rioters who came done the Crypt, scope these doors and propulsion them open. Then an active-duty Marine Corps officer, Christopher Warnagiris, keeps that doorway unfastened for the mob to flood in. Just arsenic elsewhere, this assemblage is simply a premix of die-hard Trump supporters, but besides much organized groups similar the Oath Keepers, who determination successful enactment present toward that eastbound broadside entrance. The Oath Keepers and their supporters proceed to update each different connected the Zello chat app. The radical enters the Capitol together. Proud Boys are adjacent them, including Joe Biggs, the organizer we saw earlier. He’s entering the gathering for a 2nd time. The Oath Keepers capable the Rotunda on with hundreds of different rioters. “Took implicit the Capitol. Overran the Capitol.” “We’re successful the [expletive] Capitol, bro.” Now the constabulary wrong the gathering are wholly outnumbered and telephone for backup. “It’s our House!” “Whose House?” “Our House!” Throughout the Capitol, staffers person barricaded doors to support the mob out. In Nancy Pelosi’s chambers, staffers unreserved wrong a league country and fastener 2 doors down them. Just 12 minutes later, rioters extracurricular caput consecutive for her offices. “Nancy! Nancy!” And heap in. Huddled unneurotic nether a table, Pelosi’s unit grounds what’s happening. One rioter tries to interruption into that aforesaid room. Inside, staffers are soundless arsenic they grounds him pounding. [loud banging] He gets done the archetypal door, but the 2nd doorway keeps him out. It’s a country that, again, shows conscionable however compromised the U.S. authorities has become. “I deliberation I similar my caller eating room.” By 2:30 p.m., the Senate evacuation is good underway. But adjacent though a lockdown was called implicit 15 minutes ago, the House is inactive successful session. “Do not judge Arizona’s electors arsenic certified.” Representative Jim McGovern is chairing. He told america helium wanted to decorativeness proceeding objections to the predetermination results by Paul Gosar. House unit and information gave McGovern the all-clear to continue. It’s a hold that apt outgo idiosyncratic their life. Suddenly, unit are present pointing astatine the chamber’s doors. Just outside, a mob of 100 oregon much is baying to get into them. These rioters wage small heed to the bladed enactment of police. “They’re going. Yeah, I would conscionable halt — bro.” And successful moments, are pushing against the doors into the House. “Stop the steal!” On the different side, Capitol Police erect a barricade and gully their guns. “You’re a traitor.” On the floor, lawmakers are evacuated to the rear of the chamber, wherever successful a fewer minutes a rioter volition beryllium changeable and killed. Part of the mob extracurricular present peels disconnected successful that absorption to find a antithetic mode in. Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force seasoned and QAnon supporter, is among the archetypal to get astatine the rear of the House. “Open the door.” They spot the lawmakers escaping. That lobby mightiness person been wide had the House been evacuated sooner. But the rioters present go incensed. Zachary Alam, a Trump protagonist from Pennsylvania, punches successful the solid panels with his bare fists. [pounding connected door] “Open the door.” Police are stretched highly thin. Just 3 officers and a information staffer basal guard. None are wearing riot gear, and they support their weapons holstered. “It’s going to get worse.” “Open the door.” When a squad of heavy equipped constabulary present arrives, the 3 officers measurement aside. “Go! Let’s go! Get this.” This creates a important spread that allows rioters to smash successful the glass. A informing — what happens adjacent is graphic. It’s 2:44 p.m., and down the door, a constabulary serviceman draws his handgun. Babbitt vaults into the model and the serviceman shoots her once. [gunshot] “Oh! Oh!” It’s a fatal coiled done the precocious chest. Inside the chamber, the level is clear, but lawmakers successful the balcony are sheltering successful place. [gunshot] “The [expletive]?” “Take your pins off.” “Pins off.” They present region the bosom pins that place them arsenic members of Congress. A radical of rioters who astir made it to the balcony are held astatine gunpoint arsenic it’s yet evacuated. Now Trump supporters person achieved their goal, stopping the predetermination certification. And portion the House is evacuated, astatine the different broadside of the building, the Senate is occupied. “Treason! Treason! Treason!” On the Senate floor, they leafage done lawmakers’ files. “There’s got to beryllium thing successful present we tin [expletive] usage against these scumbags.” Mug for photos. “Jesus Christ —” Pray. “We invoke Your name. Amen!” “Amen!” And permission a connection for Mike Pence. “It’s lone a substance of time. Justice is coming.” As rioters wrong person been rampaging passim the Capitol, the assemblage extracurricular has grown. And that archetypal conflict has continued raging. [horn blowing] For astir 2 hours, officers look disconnected with rioters who accidental they enactment the constabulary … … but battle them, anyway. We’re going to amusement what happened present due to the fact that it demonstrates, yet again, however failures by Capitol Police leaders to hole enactment the information of these officers astatine risk. “Leave him alone! Leave him alone!” Capitol Police had been ordered to withhold immoderate of their stronger weapons. But arsenic soon arsenic Robert Glover, a Metro Police inspector arrives, helium calls for his munitions squad to help. When the gathering is breached, Glover knows helium needs to retreat and seeks proposal from Capitol leaders. [shouting] When Capitol don’t respond, helium asks 4 times. “Push! Push! Push! Push!” Then, the constabulary suffer the line. “We the people, we are the storm!” Rioters sound an serviceman over, propulsion a occurrence extinguisher. “U.S.A.!” Glover issues a 10-33, the telephone of past resort. Crazed rioters hound the constabulary adjacent arsenic they retreat to the precocious level. Police present statesman to defender this doorway, an iconic centerpiece of statesmanlike inaugurations. But for different 2 hours, the aforesaid signifier volition repeat. Rioters capable the terrace. Instigators trigger a frenzy. And tragically, idiosyncratic volition die. A brutal combat erupts successful the doorway. The mob heaves successful a coordinated scrum. [screaming] “Help!” When constabulary yet propulsion them out, they look adjacent worse violence. They are tased, gassed and robbed of their equipment. They’re beaten with a crutch, a hockey instrumentality and adjacent an American flag. At slightest 4 officers are pulled into the crowd. One dragged by his ain helmet, look down. And again, the frenzy turns fatal. Rosanne Boyland, a Trump protagonist who has been swept up by QAnon conspiracies, is moving toward the door. But amid the scrum, she collapses and is lying unconscious beneath the mob. [crowd chants] “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” As the assemblage sarcastically chants a Black Lives Matter slogan, Boyland’s friend, Justin Winchell, tries to propulsion her to safety. He screams for help. But instead, chap rioters trample implicit Boyland and complaint astatine the constabulary again. Boyland volition beryllium pronounced dormant astatine a section infirmary successful the evening. By the extremity of the day, rioters person breached and entered the gathering successful astatine slightest 8 locations. There’s the archetypal breach, which we’ve seen, erstwhile rioters smashed done 2 windows and a door. Beside that, a rioter with a crowbar smashes successful a 2nd door, and past opens it to hundreds of people. Others smash a model adjacent to the Inauguration doorway and ascent inside. “Patriots, we request radical to basal up for our state and our Constitution.” At this entrance, constabulary basal speech and let rioters to watercourse in, unchallenged. On the northbound broadside of the building, constabulary successful riot cogwheel output and fto the assemblage in. Another 3 breaches are connected the eastbound side, 2 by the cardinal doors into the Rotunda, and this southeast doorway starring to the House chamber. It’s the accomplishment of much Metropolitan Police and different agencies that yet turns the tide. When those officers participate the Rotunda, they wide it successful conscionable 20 minutes. As the mob is pushed backmost done the eastbound doors, their rage turns to Mike Pence, who Trump attacked earlier. Metro officers besides halt different rioters from entering connected the westbound side, wherever the mob archetypal broke in. But here, too, we spot a assemblage empowered by the content that they’re carrying retired immoderate patriotic duty. Over the people of the day, 150 constabulary officers are injured. After 4 p.m., Metro and Capitol Police regain power of the precocious levels. The last parts of the interior are cleared by different instrumentality enforcement, including national agencies. Tear state and flash bangs disperse the assemblage connected the Inauguration terrace. The Virginia State Police and Arlington County Police assistance to reclaim that area. Then rioters are swiftly pushed disconnected Capitol grounds by a reinforced constabulary line. Only now, much than 3 hours aft Capitol constabulary archetypal called them, bash National Guard soldiers arrive. “You tin conscionable bash and crook down, close now.” Troops were staging conscionable 20 minutes away. But a caller procedural alteration meant the highest level of the Pentagon had to o.k. deployment. And Pentagon officials delayed the decision, partially successful fearfulness of atrocious optics, adjacent arsenic the Capitol was being overrun. As calm returns, the president tweets again. He repeats that the predetermination had been stripped away, calls his supporters large patriots, and says: The aftermath of Jan. 6 has been arsenic divisive arsenic the prevarication that launched it. Even arsenic 1 limb of authorities has indicted hundreds of rioters, Republican lawmakers proceed efforts to normalize what happened with a premix of denials and conspiracy theories. “Some of the radical who breached the Capitol contiguous were not Trump supporters.” “I knew those are radical that emotion this country, that genuinely respect instrumentality enforcement, would ne'er bash thing to interruption a law. And truthful I wasn’t concerned.” They see Paul Gosar, who’d been astatine the Trump rally. “The D.O.J. is harassing peaceful patriots crossed the country.” And Andrew Clyde, who we saw earlier, lasting conscionable a fewer feet from rioters. “There was nary insurrection. And to telephone it an insurrection, successful my opinion, is simply a bald-faced lie.” Republican leaders person blocked an autarkic probe that could person brought caller details to light. “I’ve made the determination to reason the House Democrats’ slanted and unbalanced connection for different committee to survey the events of January the 6th.” And successful May, a apical Republican was ousted from the party’s enactment aft blaming Trump for inspiring the riot. “And I deliberation that the enactment is successful a spot that we’ve got to bring it backmost from.” None of what happened connected Jan. 6 would person been imaginable without a immense wide of mean radical who were arrogant of what they achieved. “We made it!” “Yeah! We stopped the vote!” Millions astir the state inactive judge the unit was not lone justified, but necessary. And the forces that brought them determination person not gone away. “Yeah, the patriots are coming back, y’all. Hopefully, y’all volition beryllium connected our broadside erstwhile that happens.”

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A six-month Times probe has synchronized and mapped retired thousands of videos and constabulary vigor communications from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, providing the astir implicit representation to day of what happened — and why.

“Anytime you notation his name, you’re not getting an reply from me,” she told reporters. “Don’t discarded my time.”

Almost arsenic soon arsenic the constabulary retook power connected Jan. 6, hard-core defenders of Mr. Trump successful Congress began recasting the gruesome scenes of unit that near 5 radical dead.

Mr. McCarthy, the California Republican, responded otherwise astatine first: He angrily demanded that Mr. Trump halt the rioters, according to an relationship helium gave chap Republicans astatine the time. A week later, arsenic the House moved to impeach Mr. Trump, Mr. McCarthy said that “the president bears responsibility” for the “attack connected Congress by mob rioters” and called for a fact-finding commission.

But successful the months since, that aboriginal resoluteness has fixed mode to an out-and-out intent to hide the attack. Mr. McCarthy, who is trying to triumph backmost the bulk successful 2022, moved rapidly to spot things up with Mr. Trump, gave latitude to far-right members of his caucus and worked furiously to artifact the instauration of an autarkic 9/11-style commission.

This past week, conscionable earlier the officers began to present anguished grounds astir the brutality they had endured, Mr. McCarthy repeatedly laid blasted not with Mr. Trump, the rioters oregon those who had fueled doubts astir the predetermination outcome, but with Ms. Pelosi, 1 of the invading mob’s main targets.

“If determination is simply a work for this Capitol, connected this side, it rests with the speaker,” Mr. McCarthy said.

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Credit...Oliver Contreras for The New York Times

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the precocious selected House league chairwoman, went adjacent further, saying Ms. Pelosi “bears responsibility” arsenic talker “for the calamity that occurred connected Jan. 6” and deriding her arsenic “an authoritarian who has breached the people’s house.”

Ms. Pelosi is not liable for the information of Congress; that occupation falls to the Capitol Police, a unit that the talker lone indirectly influences. Republicans person made nary akin effort to blasted Mr. McConnell, who shared power of the Capitol astatine the time.

Outside the Justice Department, meanwhile, a radical of blimpish lawmakers gathered to impeach prosecutors of mistreating the much than 500 radical accused successful the Jan. 6 riot.

Encouraged by Mr. Trump, they besides echoed far-right portrayals of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was changeable trying to interruption into the House chamber, arsenic a patriotic martyr whose sidesplitting by the constabulary was premeditated.

As if to amusement however anti-democratic episodes are ping-ponging astir the globe, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia successful June seized connected Ms. Babbitt’s sidesplitting — calling it an “assassination” — to deflect questions astir his ain country’s jailing of governmental prisoners.

Some elder Republicans importune that warnings of a whitewash are overwrought.

“I don’t deliberation anybody’s going to beryllium palmy erasing what happened,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas. “Everybody saw it with their ain eyes and the federation saw it connected television.”

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Credit...T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times

For Mr. Cornyn and different lawmakers, continuing to speech astir the onslaught is intelligibly an electoral loser astatine a clip erstwhile they are trying to retake majorities successful Congress and debar Mr. Trump’s ire.

Most Republican lawmakers alternatively simply effort to accidental thing astatine all, declining adjacent to recount the day’s events, fto unsocial rebuke members of their enactment for spreading falsehoods oregon muddying the waters.

Asked however helium would picture the riot, successful which a hostile assemblage demanded the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence, his brother, Representative Greg Pence of Indiana, responded curtly, “I don’t picture it.”

Yet the soundlessness of enactment stalwarts, including astir each of the House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump for his relation successful the onslaught and the Republican senators who voted to convict him, has created an accusation void that hard-right allies of Mr. Trump person readily filled. And they person recovered receptive audiences successful a media situation replete with echo chambers and amplifying algorithms.

In a July canvass by CBS News, constrictive majorities of Trump voters said they would picture the onslaught arsenic an illustration of “patriotism” oregon “defending freedom.”

That soundlessness follows a acquainted pattern: Rather than refute mendacious allegations about a stolen predetermination and rampant elector fraud, galore starring Republicans person simply tolerated extremist misinformation.

Perhaps nary one’s soundlessness has been much important than that of Mr. McConnell, who criticized Mr. Trump and his enactment successful the contiguous aftermath of the attack, denouncing it arsenic a “failed insurrection” fueled by the erstwhile president’s lies.

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Credit...Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Since Mr. Trump’s impeachment acquittal by the Senate successful February, erstwhile Mr. McConnell declared him “practically and morally responsible,” the number person has each but refused to sermon Jan. 6.

The quiescent acquiescence of enactment leaders has efficaciously near Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois arsenic the lone 2 Republicans inactive consenting to talk retired against a bulk of their party.

“Clearly determination were information failings astatine the Capitol, but determination was a mob that tried to forestall america from carrying retired our law duty,” Ms. Cheney said successful an interview. “It’s precise hard for maine to recognize wherefore immoderate subordinate of Congress of either enactment would privation to whitewash that.”

Ms. Cheney has already paid a price: Republicans ousted her this spring from their No. 3 enactment position, replacing her with Ms. Stefanik.

Now, House hard-liners privation to expel her and Mr. Kinzinger from the Republican league altogether, portraying them arsenic “snitches” and “spies” successful league with Democrats.

The connection is clear: Adherence to facts cannot flooded adherence to the enactment line.

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