See what you need to know about Quested and why the committee will present its living testimony. A British director, Quested was part of the Proud Boys for a significant period of time until January 6 and is considered a first-hand witness due to the time he spent with the team. He has already been fired by the commission and Justice Department officials over his experience on January 6 and has provided the commission and the video section of the shooting of his documentary.
Why focus on the Proud Boys?
The leaders of the Proud Boys took part in some of the first clashes that took over the police lines and violated the Capitol. The group has been at the heart of the Justice Department for months, and on Monday, the agency accused Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four other leaders of plotting to carry out the Jan. 6 attack. These are the most aggressive accusations made by the Ministry of Justice against the Proud Boys and the first allegations of the prosecutors that the group tried to violently oppose the presidential transfer of power. Tarrio and his co-accused had previously pleaded not guilty to a previous charge.
Who else will give a living testimony?
Beyond Quested, the panel is expected to summon Capitol Officer Caroline Edwards, who was injured after she became embroiled in a Proud Boys brawl while defending the US Capitol during the uprising. CNN also learned that two people directly linked to former Vice President Mike Pence are among those who have received invitations to appear. Pence’s former chief adviser, Greg Jacobs, and former federal judge J. Michael Lutig, were briefed by the committee on their possible deposition. CNN has also learned that former Pence chief of staff Marc Short is expected to testify. All three men have already been interviewed privately by commission investigators. In some cases, their testimony has already been used by the commission as part of court testimony and summons requests from other possible witnesses in their investigation.
What is the purpose of public hearings?
In general, committee members have speculated that the hearings could focus on the role of former President Donald Trump in undermining the results of the 2020 presidential election. The panel is working on a position that Trump’s obsession with electoral defeat and the circulation of false allegations about the results laid the groundwork for the deadly Capitol Uprising. CNN’s Ryan Nobles, Annie Grayer and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
