It was a unanimous vote and the former president will now be forced to testify before the committee about the events of January 6, 2021 that killed five people and injured hundreds, including several law enforcement officers. The committee said he “is obliged to answer for his actions”. She has argued in her hearings so far that Mr Trump was directly involved in trying to overturn the 2020 US election result after he incited supporters on the day to storm the Capitol building – the seat of US power in Washington. Image: Police forced to use tear gas during riots that shocked America – and the world The committee cannot bring legal charges against Trump, but its series of hearings sought to establish his exact involvement. It may decide to file a criminal referral with the Department of Justice if members so choose. The hearing was told that Trump was orchestrating a multi-party plan to overturn the election result and that he had behaved in a way that amounted to a “stupendous betrayal of his oath of office”. The vote came as stunning new footage emerged of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers huddled in a secure location in the Capitol building as the riot unfolded around them. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seen in the video telling the group: “There has to be some way to maintain a sense that there is some security, some confidence, that the government can function… and that you can elect the President of the United States States. “We have to finish the process.” She is then surprised when an aide replies, “Apparently everyone on the floor is wearing their tear gas masks to prepare for a breach.” Capitol storm: How four hours of chaos unfolded in Washington On the morning of Jan. 6, thousands of his supporters — inspired by an incendiary speech he had just given near the White House in which he repeated claims he was denied a second term because of voter fraud — marched on Capitol Hill. He was in session at the time, overseeing the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory. Read more: Officer attacked by mob describes ‘medieval battle scene’ before final hearing US Attorney General hints at Trump prosecution over Capitol riots Image: Image: Associated Press A large group, including armed members of far-right groups such as Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and QAnon, breached barriers at pedestrian entrances to the building’s grounds. Several also entered the Capitol building itself after a mob broke windows and opened doors. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:47 The hearing was told that former President Trump refused to withdraw the mob Demystified Having lost the November 3, 2020 electoral vote to his Democratic rival, Mr Trump began insisting the contest was “rigged”, prompting his opponents to allege a conspiracy against him. His accusations of fraudulent voting are constantly rejected by the electoral authorities. The former president, a Republican, has so far declined to appear before the committee, which is made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans. He can refuse the subpoena, although he is legally bound to respond positively to it. Steve Bannon, his former aide, was also called to the panel but failed to appear and has since been held in contempt of Congress for it. He will be sentenced later this month and could face up to two years in prison. Hundreds of witnesses have been questioned by the committee and more than 50 have been subpoenaed. More than 900 people were charged with offenses related to the January 6 uprising. Mr Trump has promised to pardon them if he wins a second term as President, although he has yet to formally announce that he is running for re-election. Earlier on Thursday, the US Supreme Court rejected Trump’s appeal to intervene in the legal dispute over the FBI’s search of his Florida estate. He asked the justices to overturn a lower court ruling and allow an independent arbitrator to review the roughly 100 classified documents obtained during the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago, but his request was denied.
