The January 6th congressional committee has come under scrutiny for allegedly withholding testimony indicating the Trump administration’s efforts to bolster National Guard presence during the Capitol breach. This claim is supported by a newly released “hidden transcript” of former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato’s interview with the committee, which was made public by Georgia Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk.
Loudermilk’s release of the transcript follows a report by Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist, suggesting that the committee, previously led by Rep. Liz Cheney, chose not to disclose evidence contrary to their established narrative. According to Loudermilk, Ornato’s testimony corroborates former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’ assertion that President Trump had indeed proposed deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to safeguard the U.S. Capitol, an offer purportedly declined.
Ornato, who also has a longstanding career in the Secret Service, participated in the committee’s investigation in January 2022. Despite the committee’s conclusion, which found no evidence of the Trump administration’s call for National Guard reinforcements, Trump has consistently stated that he requested the Guard’s involvement, a claim that was met with skepticism and debunked by various media outlets.
The transcript Loudermilk released highlights a conversation between Meadows and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, where Meadows inquired if Bowser required additional protection for the city. Ornato recalled the mention of 10,000 National Guard members, emphasizing Trump’s readiness to provide sufficient security measures. Despite this, Bowser’s request only encompassed over 300 National Guard members for traffic and crowd control, explicitly stating they should not be armed.
Amidst the controversy, former President Trump and his supporters have criticized the committee’s handling of the investigation, accusing it of bias and an unwillingness to present a complete picture of the events leading up to and during January 6th. The debate continues as both sides of the political spectrum interpret the actions and decisions made in the lead-up to the Capitol riot, reflecting ongoing tensions and divisions within the U.S. political landscape.