Witnesses told the investigating committee on January 6 that an enraged Donald Trump demanded to be taken to the Capitol after the supporters he sent laid siege, fully aware of the fatal attack and the fact that some in the mob were armed but refusing to call it off as they fought to reverse his election loss.

Elaine Luria, a committee member, stated on Thursday that within 15 minutes of leaving the stage after directing the crowd to Capitol Hill during a fiery rally speech on the Ellipse behind the White House, former President Trump was aware that the Capitol was under siege and attack.

She stated that the panel had obtained testimony corroborating the compelling narrative of former White House assistant Cassidy Hutchinson on an altercation involving Trump when he asked that the Secret Service transport him to the Capitol.

Luria stated, "President Trump sat at his dining table and watched the attack on television while his senior-most staff, closest advisors and family members begged him to do what is expected of any American president,"

Mark Robinson, a retired DC Metropolitan Police Department sergeant, stated to the committee in a videotaped deposition that Trump was aware of the number of firearms in the crowd of his supporters but still wished to proceed.

"The only description that I received was that the president was upset, and that he was adamant about going to the Capitol and that there was a heated discussion about that," Robinson said.

According to the panel, Trump was "irate."

Luria said Trump "not call to place orders He did not provide aid by calling."

Trump denies involvement and maintains his bogus assertion that he lost due to massive fraud. As the hearing began, Trump spokesperson Liz Harrington posted on his Truth Social social media site, "These hearings are as fake and illegitimate as Joe Biden — they can't do anything without a teleprompter,"

Need for accountability

Chairman Bennie Thompson began Thursday's prime-time committee hearing by stating that President Trump attempted "everything in his power to overturn the election" to overturn the election he lost to Joe Biden, including before the horrific attack on the Capitol.

"He lied, he bullied, he betrayed his oath," Thompson charged.

After months of study and weeks of hearings, committee co-chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming stated that "the dam has begun to break" regarding uncovering what transpired that day, both at the White House and in the Capitol violence.

This was likely the final hearing of the summer, but the panel stated that hearings would resume in September if new witnesses and information became available.

"Our investigation goes forward," Thompson testified remotely while isolated for testing positive for Covid-19. "There needs to be accountability."

The committee pledged rigorous study of Trump's behavior during the tragic incident, which it claims he did nothing to halt and instead "gleefully" observed on television from the White House.

The panel, including seven Democrats and two Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the violent uprising, is holding its ninth public session on the Capitol incident.