President Joe Biden mentioned Monday that former President Donald Trump "lacked the braveness to behave" on Jan. 6, 2021 as Trump's supporters overran the U.S. Capitol in an try to cease the certification of the Electoral School votes.
"For 3 hours, the defeated former president of america watched all of it occur as he sat within the consolation of the personal eating room subsequent to the Oval Workplace," Mr. Biden mentioned. "Whereas he was doing that, courageous legislation enforcement officers are subjected to the medieval hell for 3 hours."
Mr. Biden, who's recovering from COVID-19, made the feedback in a digital handle to the Nationwide Group of Black Legislation Enforcement Executives on Monday. His remarks got here on the heels of the final public listening to of the summer time by the Home choose committee investigating the assault.
The bombshell public hearings have revealed new details about Trump's actions main up January 6 and on that day as rioters stormed the Capitol. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican on the committee, mentioned at Thursday's listening to that "the mob was carrying out President Trump's function, and he didn't intervene."
"You noticed what occurred," Mr. Biden mentioned Monday. "The Capitol Police, the D.C. Metropolitan Police, different legislation enforcement businesses, have been attacked and assaulted earlier than our very eyes — speared, sprayed, stomped on, brutalized. And lives have been misplaced."
Mr. Biden credited the police for his or her function in ending the riot, and implied that Trump supporters can't declare to be pro-police however assist the Capitol rioters.
"You possibly can't be pro-insurrection and pro-cop," Mr. Biden mentioned. "You possibly can't be pro-insurrection and pro-democracy. You possibly can't be pro-insurrection and pro-American."
Monday's remarks have been a few of Mr. Biden's most forceful feedback but about his predecessor and January 6. Mr. Biden has waived govt privilege for members of Trump's internal circle, however he has primarily allowed the Home committee's work to talk for itself.
Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the committee, mentioned Sunday on CNN that the committee has not but determined if it can make a legal referral to the Justice Division about Trump. Whereas the Home committee has been investigating the assault, solely the Justice Division can cost an individual with against the law.