Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia released the new video Monday on Twitter. The video includes clips of interviews with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and others who say they think Trump should make a statement on Jan. 7.
“We felt it was important to continue to call for de-escalation,” said Kushner, who helped write the draft of the Jan. 7 speech.
The video shows the draft with the lines crossed out. Trump’s daughter Ivanka, in an interview before the committee, identified the document’s handwriting as her father’s. In the draft, the line that said those who broke the law “go to jail” was crossed out and someone handwrote “will pay.”
According to the commission, other crossed-out lines read: “I direct the Department of Justice to ensure that all violators of the law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We must send a clear message not with mercy but with JUSTICE. Legal consequences must be swift and firm.”
The other crossed out line refers to the rioters who stormed the Capitol: “I want it to be very clear that you do not represent me.”
Asked why Trump wanted the lines drawn, Kushner said, “I don’t know.”
Trump’s former White House adviser, Pat Cipollone, told the committee: “I think he should have made it very clear that the people who committed violent acts, entered the Capitol, did what they did, should be prosecuted and arrested.”
Trump’s former director of staff, John McEntee, testified before the committee that Kushner told him to help “push it” if Trump asked about the Jan. 7 speech.
“He knew, because I’m always with him, that, ‘Hey, if he asks for your opinion, you know, try to push that. That will help cool everything down,” McEntee said.
McEntee said he understands that Trump is reluctant to give the speech because of “the fact that someone has to tell me to push him.”
Former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson said he understands that those around Trump believe he should make a statement on Jan. 7, 2021, to quell talk of invoking the 25th Amendment.
“From what I understood at the time and from what the reports were coming in, there was a lot of concern about potentially triggering the 25th Amendment and there was concern about what would happen in the Senate if the 25th Amendment was triggered.” Hutchinson testified before the commission.
In addition to feelings that Trump should do more to condemn the Jan. 6 violence, Hutchinson said some people in the White House are worried about what will happen to Trump in the final 15 days of his presidency, if not I’m making a statement and that’s why I needed this speech “as a cover”.
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