Photos: Trump went berserk in January. 6 and rushed at the Secret Service agent, assistant testifies

Then-President Trump denied the presence of armed demonstrators heading to the Capitol on January 1. December 6, 2021, and backed their calls to “hang Mike Pence,” a key former White House aide told House investigators Tuesday, describing the chaotic scenes inside and outside the executive mansion as Trump claimed he had to escort his supporters.

Trump was told some protesters in the crowd outside the White House had guns, but he told officials to “let my people in” and march to the Capitol, testified Cassidy Hutchinson, who was a special assistant to the then head of the White House. employee Mark Meadows.

Hutchinson portrayed the president thrashing about in anger and prone to violent outbursts as the window to undo his electoral defeat closed and aides tried to curb his impulses. According to her testimony, security officials said it was not safe to drive to the Capitol after he turned to his supporters and he rushed to the steering wheel of the presidential SUV in which he was riding.

Hutchinson said that shortly after this happened, Meadows’ deputy told her about the altercation in the armored vehicle, nicknamed “The Beast.”