CINXE.COM
Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection : NPR
<!doctype html><html class="no-js" lang="en"><head><!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice start for npr.org --> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/consent/82089dfe-410c-4e1b-a7f9-698174b62a86/OtAutoBlock.js" ></script> <script src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="82089dfe-410c-4e1b-a7f9-698174b62a86" ></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { NPR_OptanonWrapper = true; document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('npr:DataConsentAvailable')); OneTrust.OnConsentChanged(function() { document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('npr:DataConsentChanged')); }); } </script> <!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice end for npr.org --> <script src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/opt-out/otCCPAiab.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" ccpa-opt-out-ids="C0004" ccpa-opt-out-geo="us" ccpa-opt-out-lspa="false"></script><script type="text/plain" class="optanon-category-C0004"> document.cookie = "__adblocker=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; path=/"; var setNptTechAdblockerCookie = function(adblocker) { var d = new Date(); d.setTime(d.getTime() + 60 * 5 * 1000); document.cookie = "__adblocker=" + (adblocker ? "true" : "false") + "; expires=" + d.toUTCString() + "; path=/"; }; var script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("async", true); script.setAttribute("src", "//www.npttech.com/advertising.js"); script.setAttribute("onerror", "setNptTechAdblockerCookie(true);"); document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); </script><script type='text/javascript'> !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},targetingKeys:function(){return[]},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); </script><script> (function (e, o, n, i) { if (!e) { e = e || {}, window.permutive = e, e.q = []; var t = function () { return ([1e7] + -1e3 + -4e3 + -8e3 + -1e11).replace(/[018]/g, function (e) { return (e ^ (window.crypto || window.msCrypto).getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(1))[0] & 15 >> e / 4).toString(16) }) }; e.config = i || {}, e.config.apiKey = o, e.config.workspaceId = n, e.config.environment = e.config.environment || "production", (window.crypto || window.msCrypto) && (e.config.viewId = t()); for (var g = ["addon", "identify", "track", "trigger", "query", "segment", "segments", "ready", "on", "once", "user", "consent"], r = 0; r < g.length; r++) { var w = g[r]; e[w] = function (o) { return function () { var n = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 0); e.q.push({functionName: o, arguments: n}) }; }(w); } } })(window.permutive, "12730e07-f09d-4a69-93da-99b43983b663", "e1cef1f0-495f-4973-ba1c-880786e73a66", {"consentRequired": true}); </script> <!-- nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ppppppppppppppppppp rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ppppppppppppppppppp rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr nnn nnnnnn ppp pppppp rrr rrrr nnn nnnn nnnn ppp pppppp pppp rrr rrrrrr rrr nnn nnnnnn nnn ppp ppppppp ppp rrr rrrrrrrrrrrr nnn nnnnnn nnn ppp ppppp pppp rrr rrrrrrrrrrrr nnn nnnnnn nnn ppp ppppp rrr rrrrrrrrrrrr nnn nnnnnn nnn ppp ppppppppppppp rrr rrrrrrrrrrrr nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ppp ppppppppppppp rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ppppppppppppppppppp rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr We are hiring! https://boards.greenhouse.io/nationalpublicradioinc --> <script>dataLayer = [];</script> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.setAttributeNode(d.createAttribute('data-ot-ignore'));j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer', 'GTM-MVD397M');</script> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <script> try {var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();} catch(e){} </script> <meta itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/SpeakableSpecification" itemref="speakable" /><title>Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection : NPR</title><meta id="speakable" itemprop="cssSelector" content="[data-is-speakable]" /><meta id="google-site-verification" name="google-site-verification" content="1VqzbDm4ukeFVHOoq5LjIKA2fVKZD-EYv8cXZhKXSfU" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta name="robots" content="noarchive,index,follow,max-image-preview:none" /><meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=324906251, app-argument=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/10/1044830195/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection" /><meta name="Rating" content="General" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" /><meta name="npr-pjax" /><meta name="date" content="2021-10-10" /><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/10/1044830195/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection" /><meta name="description" content="Congress wants to know about ex-president Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his former aids are pushing back, and it looks like things are headed for a major showdown." /><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Politics" href="https://feeds.npr.org/1014/rss.xml" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" title="Politics" href="https://feeds.npr.org/feeds/1014/feed.json" /><meta name="cXenseParse:pageclass" content="article" /><meta name="cXenseParse:publishtime" content="2021-10-10T07:57:00-04:00" /><meta name="cXenseParse:author" content="Lulu Garcia-Navarro|Mara Liasson" data-separator="|" /><link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-180x180.png" /><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon.ico" /><link rel="icon" sizes="96x96" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-96x96.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="48x48" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-48x48.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="32x32" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="16x16" href="https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" /><meta property="og:title" content="Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/10/1044830195/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection" /><meta property="og:type" content="article" /><meta property="og:description" content="Congress wants to know about ex-president Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his former aids are pushing back, and it looks like things are headed for a major showdown." /><meta property="og:image" content="https://media.npr.org/include/images/facebook-default-wide-s1400-c100.jpg" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="NPR" /><meta property="fb:app_id" content="138837436154588" /><meta property="fb:pages" content="10643211755" /><meta property="article:content_tier" content="free" /><meta property="article:opinion" content="false" /><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /><meta name="twitter:title" content="Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection" /><meta name="twitter:site" content="@NPR" /><meta name="twitter:domain" content="npr.org" /><script id="npr-vars"> window.NPR = window.NPR || {}; NPR.ServerConstants = {"cbHost":"npr.org","webHost":"https:\/\/www.npr.org","geolocationHost":"https:\/\/www.npr.org","legacyWebHost":"https:\/\/legacy.npr.org","stripeServiceHost":"https:\/\/stripe.npr.org","recaptchaV3SiteKey":"6LcdN9IZAAAAAOHT985BJjbzjkBjKSxdxK3GeKSt","placesApiKey":"AIzaSyB_wzlXPVwS4kHRAZsM6scMzUAIsJ6aMZ4","embedHost":"https:\/\/www.npr.org","webHostSecure":"https:\/\/secure.npr.org","identityHost":"https:\/\/identity.api.npr.org","apiHost":"https:\/\/api.npr.org","stationApiHost":"https:\/\/station.api.npr.org","environment":"prod","serverMediaCache":"https:\/\/media.npr.org","googleAnalyticsAccount":"UA-5828686-4","gtmKey":"GTM-MVD397M","nielsenSFCode":"dcr","nielsenAPN":"NPR-dcr","shouldShowHPLocalContent":true,"cookieDomain":".npr.org","organizationV4Host":"https:\/\/organization.api.npr.org","staticAssetsHost":"https:\/\/static-assets.npr.org"}; NPR.serverVars = {"storyId":"1044830195","storyCategory":"Politics","isHiring":true,"facebookAppId":"138837436154588","webpackPublicPath":"https:\/\/bundles.npr.org\/dist\/bundles\/","persistenceVersion":"dc6ca5382641618149badd84283456fc","isBuildOut":false,"pageLayoutName":"NewsStoryLayout","topicIds":["P1014"],"primaryTopic":"Politics","topics":["Politics"],"theme":"1014","programId":"Weekend Edition Sunday","program":"10","aggIds":["10","1014","1930401","4462099","1044822920"],"byline":["Lulu Garcia-Navarro","Mara Liasson"],"contentPartnerOrgFullName":"1 | NPR","pubDate":"2021101007","fullPubDate":"Sun, 10 Oct 2021 07:57:00 -0400","pageTypeId":"1","title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump\u0026#039;s role in the insurrection","publisherOrgId":"1"}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/11107397707.js"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static-assets.npr.org/static/javascript/lib/modernizr/modernizr.custom.js"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static-assets.npr.org/static/javascript/lib/svg-loader.min.js"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" async src="https://js.stripe.com/v3/"> </script> <script> !function(e){function r(r){for(var t,o,d=r[0],f=r[1],b=r[2],i=0,l=[];i<d.length;i++)o=d[i],Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(n,o)&&n[o]&&l.push(n[o][0]),n[o]=0;for(t in f)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(f,t)&&(e[t]=f[t]);for(u&&u(r);l.length;)l.shift()();return c.push.apply(c,b||[]),a()}function a(){for(var e,r=0;r<c.length;r++){for(var a=c[r],t=!0,d=1;d<a.length;d++){var f=a[d];0!==n[f]&&(t=!1)}t&&(c.splice(r--,1),e=o(o.s=a[0]))}return e}var t={},n={0:0},c=[];function o(r){if(t[r])return t[r].exports;var a=t[r]={i:r,l:!1,exports:{}};return e[r].call(a.exports,a,a.exports,o),a.l=!0,a.exports}o.e=function(e){var r=[],a=n[e];if(0!==a)if(a)r.push(a[2]);else{var t=new Promise((function(r,t){a=n[e]=[r,t]}));r.push(a[2]=t);var c,d=document.createElement("script");d.charset="utf-8",d.timeout=120,o.nc&&d.setAttribute("nonce",o.nc),d.src=function(e){return o.p+""+e+"."+{1:"1cc38445607d21bc32a0",2:"6e6f4f056d55c519c233",3:"9be5ee50abe37e768f5c",4:"2405e41ec529f202506c",5:"04e52c51baeda911a46a",6:"be83b1ac6cd79ab71765",7:"826b5f941d1ebae779ed",8:"d5de401732511e7d88bb",9:"f23d60a0db48311059ac",10:"d54aaa9e0dc01e32c36b",73:"a588d581084d270c2664",74:"d27cbd060d5aa3a531f0",75:"8fcc954db477457ff858",76:"04efa1ccb3a4381e5bb4",77:"929faa0690d0ebc092ea",78:"f7b26db999f9ec13aec4",79:"912cd4fa10417c2e281f",80:"d5dc545bb8c777c9a202",81:"a4f986d9b27c5409fecb",82:"566df69f2568610a2bd0",83:"df5e1ae315931d2b5ce7",84:"d8d8025e7f304d2106f4",85:"9f771054dfee76c7d68c",86:"71e6eb5243be2f68aabb",87:"86704756ec93d981fddf",88:"c00df55abc9590c1c43e",89:"e4ee49a282463e7804a1",90:"53163fb03a49a6726de8",91:"d19a9811b14651c39c84",92:"ec6da34a44eaef4f6163",93:"555bbf138433e041e14a",94:"6aac751af7bddc641ca9",95:"1681f60da6176400cd5f",96:"d61a221b7aea4db505f9",97:"e4b0b55194733b6a91be",98:"60e7069f094cdc347b85",99:"a8dbedc94ac493dadb4d",100:"0eda2b2b92b180d58faf"}[e]+".chunk.js"}(e);var f=new Error;c=function(r){d.onerror=d.onload=null,clearTimeout(b);var a=n[e];if(0!==a){if(a){var t=r&&("load"===r.type?"missing":r.type),c=r&&r.target&&r.target.src;f.message="Loading chunk "+e+" failed.\n("+t+": "+c+")",f.name="ChunkLoadError",f.type=t,f.request=c,a[1](f)}n[e]=void 0}};var b=setTimeout((function(){c({type:"timeout",target:d})}),12e4);d.onerror=d.onload=c,document.head.appendChild(d)}return Promise.all(r)},o.m=e,o.c=t,o.d=function(e,r,a){o.o(e,r)||Object.defineProperty(e,r,{enumerable:!0,get:a})},o.r=function(e){"undefined"!=typeof Symbol&&Symbol.toStringTag&&Object.defineProperty(e,Symbol.toStringTag,{value:"Module"}),Object.defineProperty(e,"__esModule",{value:!0})},o.t=function(e,r){if(1&r&&(e=o(e)),8&r)return e;if(4&r&&"object"==typeof e&&e&&e.__esModule)return e;var a=Object.create(null);if(o.r(a),Object.defineProperty(a,"default",{enumerable:!0,value:e}),2&r&&"string"!=typeof e)for(var t in e)o.d(a,t,function(r){return e[r]}.bind(null,t));return a},o.n=function(e){var r=e&&e.__esModule?function(){return e.default}:function(){return e};return o.d(r,"a",r),r},o.o=function(e,r){return Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,r)},o.p="/dist/bundles/",o.oe=function(e){throw console.error(e),e};var d=window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[],f=d.push.bind(d);d.push=r,d=d.slice();for(var b=0;b<d.length;b++)r(d[b]);var u=f;a()}([]); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/32.d85d8a8a20912c755383.chunk.js"> </script> <link rel="stylesheet" data-persist="true" media="screen, print" href="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent-css-91e7828ebe6352ebd455.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" data-persist="true" media="screen and (min-width: 768px)" href="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent_medium-css-91e7828ebe6352ebd455.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" data-persist="true" media="screen and (min-width: 1025px)" href="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent_large-css-91e7828ebe6352ebd455.css" /><link rel="preload" data-persist="true" media="screen, print" href="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/fonts-css-91e7828ebe6352ebd455.css" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'" /><link rel="stylesheet" media="screen, print" href="https://bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/newsStory-css-91e7828ebe6352ebd455.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="https://static-assets.npr.org/branding/sections/politics/branding.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="https://s.npr.org/include/overridecss/theme1014.css" /><script type="application/ld+json"> {"@type":"NewsArticle","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NPR","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/chrome\/npr-logo.jpg"}},"headline":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/10\/10\/1044830195\/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection"},"datePublished":"2021-10-10T07:57:00-04:00","dateModified":"2021-10-10T07:57:00-04:00","author":{"@type":"Person","name":["Lulu Garcia-Navarro"]},"description":"Congress wants to know about ex-president Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his former aids are pushing back, and it looks like things are headed for a major showdown.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/include\/images\/facebook-default-wide.jpg"},"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org"} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> document.domain="www.npr.org"; </script> <script id="piano-aid" type="text/javascript" data-piano-aid="9ENxKQ58pu"> (function(src) { var a = document.createElement("script"); a.type = "text/javascript"; a.async = true; a.src = src; var b = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; b.parentNode.insertBefore(a, b) })("//cdn.piano.io/api/tinypass.min.js"); window.pdl = window.pdl || {}; window.pdl.requireConsent = true; tp = window.tp || []; tp.push(["init", function() { tp.enableGACrossDomainLinking(); }]); </script> <script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="MBVDT-3L9KY-36ZMJ-SPSAR-JR833",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"MBVDT-3L9KY-36ZMJ-SPSAR-JR833";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n=""=="true"?1:0,t="",a="bdpnbeqxgqubaz2fexhq-f-a3562d034-clientnsv4-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"55818","ak.ai":parseInt("290690",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":0,"ak.ipv":4,"ak.proto":"http/1.1","ak.rid":"bbcc7581","ak.r":41723,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"8.222.208.0","ak.cport":52758,"ak.gh":"23.52.40.30","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.2","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"reno","ak.t":"1732584911","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==OG75xyHuMdKNgkgSmahQEZxnfhig6PZn9Ij9set3rvT526TX03Rr7dNApXsYIvcbLWwTGzsr8QomC1JfoW4vedqFxWiWRJcPnLfhj9FCzB3OnvAkvPqlgqZAhgQVNa446a2UrzynH61WjzMXTxCcPGOX4IapdMCGeMwgrsONb6jO3kd7j6TF5/PiERpMbQx/PYGf25z2gRxRdn9b3WSE1T9vZ3y1/+K10MJaFD1y/42lRM75bN4YCQKSJVoXgIDZ7IZPgTVGHQ2nc9Ct7orIh/nRDkeATYdQx7Dq4xPD3dd8QX7wGUlxDERDdHhEcnQJKj/SaOU/TD6zs3ZN4V39f8pb/tlr58JNCOG2/QG6GIuDH0cUW7JbnN/49JT2ACVgz1H41xhEVhlg+tLjcCs+uiSPRJ9Mm34Tz9QEo3v35EA=","ak.pv":"97","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head><body id="news" class="news tmplNewsStory story-layout is-DACS-only has-transcript has-no-branding id1044830195 " data-pjax-modules="util/env images/lazy-load data-consent data-management-platform header-bidding metrics nielsen nielsenDCR copyright auto-refresh navigation/global-navigation fitvids googletag dfp globalfooter persistent-audio player/more-options player/audio-module-clickable what-input metrics/doubleclickFloodlight callout/on-page-callouts global-alerts we-are-hiring piano rum ecommerce recommendations/end-of-story-recommendations-callout jw social/share slideshow images/enlargement contentfooter story/date-tooltip social/sharepop podcast-cards search/faceting-param local/newsletter/callout social/recaptcha"> <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) --> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MVD397M" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --> <div class="skip-links"> <span>Accessibility links</span> <ul> <li><a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a></li> <li><a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a></li> </ul> </div> <header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header"> <nav class="navigation"> <div class="navigation__top-level-wrap" data-metrics-category-ga4="recirculation"> <ul class="navigation__top-level"> <li class="navigation__toggle-wrap"> <button id="navigation__toggle--open" class="navigation__toggle navigation__toggle--open" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"open navigation menu","clickType":"global navigation"}'> Open Navigation Menu </button> </li> <li class="navigation__home"> <a href="/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr logo","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"\/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo.svg" alt="NPR logo"/> </a> </li> <li id="navigation__station-mount"></li> <li class="navigation__newsletters"> <div class="navigation__newsletters-inner"> <a href="/newsletters/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"newsletters","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/newsletters/"}' target='_blank'>Newsletters</a> </div> </li> <li id="user-account-dropdown-mount" class="navigation__account"></li> <li class="navigation__shop"> <a href="https://shopnpr.org" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr shop","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"https://shopnpr.org"}'>NPR Shop</a> </li> <li id="navigation__station-donate-mount"></li> </ul> </div> <section id="main-menu" class="menu menu--main" data-metrics-category-ga4="recirculation"> <div class="menu__inner"> <header class="menu__header"> <button id="navigation__toggle--close" class="navigation__toggle navigation__toggle--close" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="true" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"close navigation menu","clickType":"global navigation"}'> Close <span>Navigation Menu</span> </button> </header> <ul class="menu__list"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--home"> <div class="menu__item-inner"><a href="/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr logo","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"\/"}'>Home</a></div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/sections/news/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"news","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/news/"}'>News</a> <button class="menu__toggle-submenu" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"toggle news drawer","clickType":"global navigation"}'>Expand/collapse submenu for News</button> </div> <ul class="submenu submenu--news"> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/elections/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"election2024","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/elections/"}'>Election 2024</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/national/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"national","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/national/"}'>National</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/world/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"world","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/world/"}'>World</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/politics/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"politics","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/politics/"}'>Politics</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/business/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"business","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/business/"}'>Business</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/health/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"health","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/health/"}'>Health</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/science/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"science","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/science/"}'>Science</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/climate/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"climate","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/climate/"}'>Climate</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/codeswitch/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"race","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/codeswitch/"}'>Race</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/sections/culture/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"culture","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/culture/"}'>Culture</a> <button class="menu__toggle-submenu" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"toggle culture drawer","clickType":"global navigation"}'>Expand/collapse submenu for Culture</button> </div> <ul class="submenu submenu--culture"> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/books/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"books","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/books/"}'>Books</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/movies/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"movies","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/movies/"}'>Movies</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/television/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"television","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/television/"}'>Television</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/pop-culture/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"pop culture","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/pop-culture/"}'>Pop Culture</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/food/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"food","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/food/"}'>Food</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/art-design/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"art & design","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/art-design/"}'>Art & Design</a> </li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/performing-arts/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"performing arts","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/performing-arts/"}'>Performing Arts</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/lifekit/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"life kit","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/lifekit/"}'>Life Kit</a></li> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/sections/gaming/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"gaming","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/sections/gaming/"}'>Gaming</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--music menu__item--has-submenu"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/music/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"music","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/music/"}'>Music</a> <button class="menu__toggle-submenu" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"toggle music drawer","clickType":"global navigation"}'>Expand/collapse submenu for Music</button> </div> <ul class="submenu submenu--music"><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"all songs considered","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/allsongs\/"}' > All Songs Considered </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/music-features" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"music features","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/music-features"}' > Music Features </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"tiny desk","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/tiny-desk-concerts\/"}' > Tiny Desk </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/770565791/npr-music-live-sessions" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"live sessions","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/770565791\/npr-music-live-sessions"}' > Live Sessions </a> </li></ul> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--shows-podcasts menu__item--has-submenu"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/podcasts-and-shows/" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"podcasts & shows","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/podcasts-and-shows/"}'>Podcasts & Shows</a> <button class="menu__toggle-submenu" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"toggle podcasts & shows drawer","clickType":"global navigation"}'>Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows</button> </div> <div class="submenu submenu--shows-podcasts"> <span class="submenu__category submenu__category--daily">Daily</span> <ul class="submenu__list submenu__list--daily"> <li class="submenu__item submenu__item--timed submenu__item--weekday hidden"> <a href="/programs/morning-edition/" data-metrics-action="click morning edition" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"morning edition","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/programs/morning-edition/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome/programs/logos/morning-edition.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="" /> Morning Edition </a> </li> <li class="submenu__item submenu__item--timed submenu__item--saturday hidden" > <a href="/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/" data-metrics-action="click weekend edition saturday" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"weekend edition saturday","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/02/26/we_otherentitiestemplatesat_sq-cbde87a2fa31b01047441e6f34d2769b0287bcd4-s100-c85.png" loading="lazy" alt="" /> Weekend Edition Saturday </a> </li> <li class="submenu__item submenu__item--timed submenu__item--sunday hidden"> <a href="/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/" data-metrics-action="click weekend edition sunday" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"weekend edition sunday","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/02/26/we_otherentitiestemplatesun_sq-4a03b35e7e5adfa446aec374523a578d54dc9bf5-s100-c85.png" loading="lazy" alt="" /> Weekend Edition Sunday </a> </li> <li class="submenu__item"> <a href="/programs/all-things-considered/" data-metrics-action="click all things considered" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"all things considered","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/programs/all-things-considered/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome/programs/logos/all-things-considered.png" loading="lazy" alt="" /> All Things Considered </a> </li> <li class="submenu__item"> <a href="/programs/fresh-air/" data-metrics-action="click fresh air" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"fresh air","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/programs/fresh-air/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome/programs/logos/fresh-air.png" loading="lazy" alt="" /> Fresh Air </a> </li> <li class="submenu__item"> <a href="/podcasts/510318/up-first/" data-metrics-action="click up first" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"up first","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/podcasts/510318/up-first/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome/programs/logos/up-first.jpg?version=2" loading="lazy" alt="" /> Up First </a> </li> </ul> <span class="submenu__category submenu__category--featured">Featured</span> <ul class="submenu__list submenu__list--featured"><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"the npr politics podcast","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510310\/npr-politics-podcast"}' > <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/01/11/podcast-politics_2023_update1_sq-be7ef464dd058fe663d9e4cfe836fb9309ad0a4d-s100-c100.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/01/11/podcast-politics_2023_update1_sq-be7ef464dd058fe663d9e4cfe836fb9309ad0a4d-s100.jpg" class=" lazy" alt="" loading="lazy" /> The NPR Politics Podcast </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"throughline","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510333\/throughline"}' > <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/05/15/throughline_tile-art_sq-b72bcfb6d8705d7761d4f421f0be3047631b709c-s100-c100.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/05/15/throughline_tile-art_sq-b72bcfb6d8705d7761d4f421f0be3047631b709c-s100.jpg" class=" lazy" alt="" loading="lazy" /> Throughline </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510374/trumps-terms" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"trump's terms","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510374\/trumps-terms"}' > <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/11/20/trumps-terms_tile-art_sq-09be0b471c4010c009718fe1a5b962defaf277c8-s100-c100.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/11/20/trumps-terms_tile-art_sq-09be0b471c4010c009718fe1a5b962defaf277c8-s100.jpg" class=" lazy" alt="" loading="lazy" /> Trump's Terms </a> </li><li class="submenu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510379/wild-card-with-rachel-martin" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"wild card with rachel martin","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510379\/wild-card-with-rachel-martin"}' > <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/04/19/tile-wild-card-with-rachel-martin_sq-c9e842a167bab21c50f45fbde9d7d33776e87eda-s100-c100.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/04/19/tile-wild-card-with-rachel-martin_sq-c9e842a167bab21c50f45fbde9d7d33776e87eda-s100.jpg" class=" lazy" alt="" loading="lazy" /> Wild Card with Rachel Martin </a> </li></ul> <ul class="submenu__list submenu__list--directories"> <li class="submenu__item"><a href="/podcasts-and-shows/" data-metrics-action="click podcasts & shows" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"podcasts & shows","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/podcasts-and-shows/"}'>More Podcasts & Shows</a></li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--search"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/search/" id="navigation_dropdown-search" data-metrics-action="click search" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"search","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/search/"}'>Search</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--newsletters"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="/newsletters/" data-metrics-action="click newsletters" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"newsletters","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/newsletters/"}' target='_blank'>Newsletters</a> </div> </li> <li id="user-account-dropdown-mount-two" class="menu__item menu__item--account"></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--shop"> <div class="menu__item-inner"> <a href="https://shopnpr.org" data-metrics-action="click npr shop" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr shop","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"https://shopnpr.org"}'>NPR Shop</a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="menu menu--music" data-metrics-category-ga4="recirculation"> <div class="menu__list-wrap"> <ul class="menu__list menu__list--ecosystem menu__list--music"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--music-home"> <a href="/music/" data-metrics-action="click npr music logo" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr music logo","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/music/"}'> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome_svg/music-logo-dark.svg" class="music-logo" alt="NPR Music" /> <img src="https://media.npr.org/chrome_svg/music-logo-light.svg" class="music-logo-alt" alt="NPR Music" /> </a> </li> <li class="menu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"all songs considered","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/allsongs\/"}' > All Songs Considered </a> </li><li class="menu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/music-features" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"music features","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/music-features"}' > Music Features </a> </li><li class="menu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"tiny desk","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/tiny-desk-concerts\/"}' > Tiny Desk </a> </li><li class="menu__item"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/770565791/npr-music-live-sessions" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"live sessions","clickType":"music ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/770565791\/npr-music-live-sessions"}' > Live Sessions </a> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="menu menu--about" data-metrics-category-ga4="recirculation"> <div class="menu__list-wrap"> <ul class="menu__list menu__list--ecosystem menu__list--about"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-home"><a href="/about/" data-metrics-action="click about npr" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"about npr","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/about/"}'>About NPR</a></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-diversity"><a href="/diversity/" data-metrics-action="click diversity" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"diversity","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/diversity/"}'>Diversity</a></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-support"><a href="/support/" data-metrics-action="click support" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"support","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/support/"}'>Support</a></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-careers"><a href="/careers/" data-metrics-action="click careers" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"careers","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/careers/"}'>Careers</a></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-press"><a href="/series/750003/press-room/" data-metrics-action="click press" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"press","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/series/750003/press-room/"}'>Press</a></li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--about-ethics"><a href="/ethics/" data-metrics-action="click ethics" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"ethics","clickType":"about ecosystem navigation","clickUrl":"/ethics/"}'>Ethics</a></li> </ul> </div> </section> </nav> </header><main aria-label="main content"><div class="speakable"> <b data-is-speakable>Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection</b> <b data-is-speakable>Congress wants to know about ex-president Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his former aids are pushing back, and it looks like things are headed for a major showdown.</b> </div> <div id="wrapper"> <header class="contentheader contentheader--one"></header> <section id="main-section"><article class="story"><a id="mainContent"></a><div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/politics/">Politics</a> </h3> </div> <div class="storytitle"> <h1>Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection</h1> <input type="hidden" id="title1044830195" value="Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection" /> <input type="hidden" id="shortTitle1044830195" value="Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection" /> <input type="hidden" id="modelFullUrl1044830195" value="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/10/1044830195/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection" /> </div> <!-- END CLASS="STORYTITLE" --> <div id="story-meta" class="story-meta has-byline"> <div class="story-meta__one"> <div class="story-meta__one-inner"> <div class="dateblock"> <time datetime="2021-10-10T07:57:00-04:00"> <span class="date">October 10, 2021</span><span class="time">7:57 AM ET</span> </time> </div> <div class="program-block"> Heard on <a href="https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/2021/10/10/1044822920/weekend-edition-sunday-for-october-10-2021">Weekend Edition Sunday</a> </div> <!-- END CLASS="PROGRAM-BLOCK" --> </div> <!-- END CLASS="STORY-META__ONE-INNER" --> </div> <!-- END CLASS="STORY-META__ONE" --> <div class="story-meta__two"> <div id="storybyline" class="storybyline-wrap linkLocation"> <div class="bucketwrap byline"> <div class="byline-container--block byline-container--block-nophoto"> <p class="byline__name--block">By </p> <div class="byline byline--block byline--has-link" aria-label="Byline"> <p class="byline__name byline__name--block"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/4462099/lourdes-garcia-navarro" rel="author"> Lulu Garcia-Navarro </a> </p> </div> <p class="byline__name--block byline__comma">, </p> <div class="byline byline--block byline--has-link" aria-label="Byline"> <div class="byline__photo"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1930401/mara-liasson" rel="author"> <picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s=100&c=85&f=webp" class="img" type="image/webp" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s=100&c=85&f=png" class="img" type="image/png" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="png" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s=100&c=85&f=png" class="img" alt="Mara Liasson 2010" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/05/14/new-image_sq-eea20685512b7001da0698b17510fb1cbce13a46.png?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="png" /></picture> </a> </div> <p class="byline__name byline__name--block"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1930401/mara-liasson" rel="author"> Mara Liasson </a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END CLASS="BUCKETWRAP BYLINE" --> </div> </div> <!-- END CLASS="STORY-META__TWO" --> </div> <!-- END ID="STORY-META" CLASS="STORY-META HAS-BYLINE" --> <div id="primaryaudio" class="storylocation linkLocation"> <article id="res1044830196" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump's role in the insurrection</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"1044830195:1044830196","available":true,"duration":258,"title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump\u0027s role in the insurrection","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/wesun\/2021\/10\/20211010_wesun_politics_chat_101021.mp3?d=258&size=4142020&e=1044830195&t=progseg&seg=10&p=10&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/10\/10\/1044830195\/politics-chat-congress-wants-answers-to-trumps-role-in-the-insurrection","slug":"Politics","program":"Weekend Edition Sunday","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesun/2021/10/20211010_wesun_politics_chat_101021.mp3?d=258&size=4142020&e=1044830195&t=progseg&seg=10&p=10&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>4:18</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P4M,18S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">4:18</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_open_more_options","storyId":"1044830195","mediaId":"1044830196","title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump&#39;s role in the insurrection","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-toggle"></b> <b class="label">Toggle more options</b> </button> <ul class="audio-module-more-tools"> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesun/2021/10/20211010_wesun_politics_chat_101021.mp3?d=258&size=4142020&e=1044830195&t=progseg&seg=10&p=10&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_download","storyId":"1044830195","mediaId":"1044830196","title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump&#39;s role in the insurrection","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" > <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1044830195/1044830196" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_embed","storyId":"1044830195","mediaId":"1044830196","title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump&#39;s role in the insurrection","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button> <div class="audio-embed-overlay"> <button class="btn-close"></button> <label class="embed-label"> <b class="audio-embed-overlay__icon"></b> <b class="label">Embed</b> <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly value="<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1044830195/1044830196" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe>"> </label> <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch"> <code><b class="punctuation"><</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1044830195/1044830196" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></code> </b> </div> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1044830195" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_click_transcript","storyId":"1044830195","mediaId":"1044830196","title":"Politics chat: Congress wants answers to Trump&#39;s role in the insurrection","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-transcript"></b> <b class="audio-tool-label">Transcript</b> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div id="storytext" class="storytext storylocation linkLocation"> <p>Congress wants to know about ex-president Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his former aids are pushing back, and it looks like things are headed for a major showdown.</p> <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap backstage" aria-label="advertisement"> <div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div id="ad-backstage-News_Politics" class="ad-config ad-backstage has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"n6735.NPR","mobile":"n6735.NPRMOBILE"},"zone":"News_Politics","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"1044830195","program":"Weekend_Edition_Sunday"},"location":"backstage","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":false,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":true}'></div> <div class="ad-footer "></div> </aside> </div> <div class="transcript storytext" aria-label="Transcript"> <b class="icn-story-transcript-wrap"> <b class="icn-story-transcript"></b> </b> <p><p>LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: <p><p> The raising of the debt ceiling and the fight over which provisions of the infrastructure bill survive have been taking up a lot of oxygen here in Washington, D.C. But this past week, another story came back into the spotlight - the role of former President Donald Trump in the violent January 6 attack on the Capitol. Congress wants answers. Trump and his former aides are pushing back. And it looks like things are headed for a major showdown. We're joined now by NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson.<p><p>Hello, Mara.<p><p>MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: Hi, Lulu.<p><p>GARCIA-NAVARRO: Lots of movement on this story - let's recap. Congress has subpoenaed depositions from former Trump officials, including Steve Bannon, Dan Scavino. But they've refused to provide them. What do lawmakers hope to learn from those depositions - which will be closed, by the way - assuming they're provided?<p><p>LIASSON: They want to learn what context, if any, the Trump White House had with the January 6 insurrectionists. And Trump, of course, has told all of his former advisers not to cooperate. He's claiming executive privilege. Last week, President Biden - as the current president, he controls the National Archives - rejected that claim of privilege, says it usually doesn't cover ex-presidents. Steve Bannon wasn't even working in the White House in 2020. He left in 2017, so it's unclear how he's even arguably covered by privilege. So there's going to be a big legal fight over this, whether they have to testify or not.<p><p>GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK. I mean, the January 6 commission though isn't the only committee looking into this. There was also an interim Senate judiciary report detailing Trump's attempt to get the Justice Department to help him overturn the results of the 2020 election.<p><p>LIASSON: That's right. The committee took testimony from former Trump Justice Department officials who told them that then-President Trump told them that if they didn't help him overturn the election results, he would fire them and replace them with people who would. Then-Acting Attorney Jeffrey Rosen told the committee that on January 3 - this is just three days before the attacks - Trump said, one thing we know is you, Rosen, aren't going to do anything to overturn the election. And of course, that January 6 attack three days later took place just as Congress was in the process of finalizing President Biden's - certifying President Biden's victory.<p><p>GARCIA-NAVARRO: I mean, there's a lot going on here because now even former Vice President Mike Pence appears to be downplaying the January 6 attacks. Pence told Fox's Sean Hannity on Monday that media attention on that day is intended to, quote, "distract from the Biden administration's failed agenda" and to, quote, "demean the character of Trump supporters." I mean, that's remarkable, given that some of the rioters were calling for his hanging.<p><p>LIASSON: That's right. They were chanting, hang Mike Pence. They had set up a gallows outside the Capitol. He had to be removed by security agents. But yes. He says, now the media wants to focus on, quote, "just one day." But Pence is a model of how you mold yourself to the new reality of the Republican Party, which is that Trump is the leader. He wants unquestioning loyalty. The litmus test for that loyalty is adherence to this lie that the 2020 election was stolen. And Pence wants to run for president in 2024, and he's been trying to figure out how to get back into the good graces of Donald Trump.<p><p>GARCIA-NAVARRO: And in the middle of all this, speaking of former President Donald Trump, he held a rally in Iowa last night.<p><p>LIASSON: That's right. He's in Iowa. Iowa, of course, is the first stop in running for president. Any Republican who sets foot in Iowa is going to generate talk about his presidential ambitions. And Trump, at least for now, wants to keep the idea alive that he might - probably will run for president. Whether he does at the end almost doesn't matter. But he said last night that the single biggest issue for him and his supporters is talking about the election fraud of the 2020 presidential election.<p><p>There is no - was no fraud, but he keeps on talking about it. It's a way that he can continue to exercise his power as the most important Republican in the United States. He freezes the presidential field for 2024. But he also continues to make this fraudulent claim that 2020 was stolen the No. 1 issue for the Republican Party. And he further undermines Americans' faith in free and fair elections. If you don't believe the ballot is legitimate, you don't believe in American democracy.<p><p>GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's NPR's national political correspondent Mara Liasson.<p><p>Thank you so much.<p><p>LIASSON: You're welcome.<p></p> <p class="disclaimer">Copyright © 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179876898/terms-of-use">terms of use</a> and <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179881519/rights-and-permissions-information">permissions</a> pages at <a href="https://www.npr.org">www.npr.org</a> for further information.</p> <p class="disclaimer">NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.</p> </div> <div class="share-tools share-tools--secondary" aria-label="Share tools"> <ul> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook"><button class="fbStory1044830195" data-share-facebook='{"storyId": "1044830195" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"facebook"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Facebook</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard"><button class="story1044830195" data-share-flipboard='{"storyId": "1044830195" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"flipboard"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Flipboard</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--email"><button class='share-tools__email-link' data-story-id='1044830195' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"email"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Email</b></button></li> </ul> </div> <!-- END CLASS="SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS--SECONDARY" ARIA-LABEL="SHARE TOOLS" --> <div id="newsletter-acquisition-callout-data" data-newsletter="{"newsletterId":"politics","title":"Politics","marketingHeader":"Sign Up For The NPR Politics Newsletter","frequency":"every week","shortDescription":"From the White House to your home \u2014 political news and analysis that matter, sent weekly.","stickyDescription":"Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter for the latest news from Washington and what it means for you. Sent weekly.","contentImage":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/e6\/6e\/55f3ccb841b59da52dfd3398d776\/screenshot-2024-10-17-at-3-11-22-pm.png","staticMarkupDir":" ","brandingDir":"\/branding\/sections\/politics\/","brandingLink":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/politics\/","recaptchaSiteKey":"6LfD6CYUAAAAAIBeUekwZ9KCjF4UyLFtu7NWNaEK"}"> </div> <!-- END ID="NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA" DATA-NEWSLETTER="{"NEWSLETTERID":"POLITICS","TITLE":"POLITICS","MARKETINGHEADER":"SIGN UP FOR THE NPR POLITICS NEWSLETTER","FREQUENCY":"EVERY WEEK","SHORTDESCRIPTION":"FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO YOUR HOME \U2014 POLITICAL NEWS AND ANALYSIS THAT MATTER, SENT WEEKLY.","STICKYDESCRIPTION":"SUBSCRIBE TO THE NPR POLITICS NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST NEWS FROM WASHINGTON AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU. SENT WEEKLY.","CONTENTIMAGE":"HTTPS:\/\/NPR.BRIGHTSPOTCDN.COM\/E6\/6E\/55F3CCB841B59DA52DFD3398D776\/SCREENSHOT-2024-10-17-AT-3-11-22-PM.PNG","STATICMARKUPDIR":" ","BRANDINGDIR":"\/BRANDING\/SECTIONS\/POLITICS\/","BRANDINGLINK":"HTTPS:\/\/WWW.NPR.ORG\/SECTIONS\/POLITICS\/","RECAPTCHASITEKEY":"6LFD6CYUAAAAAIBEUEKWZ9KCJF4UYLFTU7NWNAEK"}" --> <div id="callout-end-of-story-mount"> </div> <!-- END ID="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT" --> <div id="callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap" class="callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap"> <div id="callout-end-of-story-mount-piano" class="callout-end-of-story-mount-piano"> </div> <!-- END ID="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO" CLASS="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO" --> </div> <!-- END ID="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP" CLASS="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP" --> <aside id="end-of-story-recommendations-mount" class="recommended-stories" aria-label="recommended stories"></aside> <!-- END ID="END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT" CLASS="RECOMMENDED-STORIES" ARIA-LABEL="RECOMMENDED STORIES" --> </article><footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer"><div class="npr-footer__content"> <div class="npr-footer__module-group"> <div class="npr-footer__module"> <h6 class="npr-footer__header">Read & Listen</h6> <ul> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/sections/news/">News</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/sections/culture/">Culture</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/music/">Music</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/podcasts-and-shows" >Podcasts & Shows</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="npr-footer__module"> <h6 class="npr-footer__header">Connect</h6> <ul> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/newsletters/" target='_blank'>Newsletters</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NPR/" >Facebook</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/npr/">Instagram</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/press/">Press</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/sections/publiceditor/">Public Editor</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/corrections/">Corrections</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/">Contact & Help</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="npr-footer__module"> <h6 class="npr-footer__header">About NPR</h6> <ul> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about/">Overview</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/diversity/">Diversity</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/network/" target="_blank">NPR Network</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/1136563345/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/ethics/">Ethics</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances">Finances</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="npr-footer__module"> <h6 class="npr-footer__header">Get Involved</h6> <ul> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/support/">Support Public Radio</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/186948703/corporate-sponsorship">Sponsor NPR</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/careers/">NPR Careers</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://shopnpr.org/">NPR Shop</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://www.nprpresents.org">NPR Events</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/sections/npr-extra/">NPR Extra</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="npr-footer__module npr-footer__module--secondary"> <ul> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/179876898/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">Privacy</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy#yourchoices">Your Privacy Choices</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><a href="https://text.npr.org/">Text Only</a></li> <li class="npr-footer__item"><span class="copy-year"></span></li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer><div id="global-stickybar-mount" class="global-stickybar-mount"> </div> <div id="global-stickybar-mount-piano-wrap" class="global-stickybar"> <div id="global-stickybar-mount-piano" class="global-stickybar-mount-piano"> </div> </div> </section> <div id="main-sidebar"> <aside id="ad-standard-wrap" class="ad-wrap standard" aria-label="advertisement"> <div id="ad-standard-News_Politics" class="ad-config ad-standard has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"n6735.NPR","mobile":"n6735.NPRMOBILE"},"zone":"News_Politics","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"1044830195","program":"Weekend_Edition_Sunday"},"location":"standard","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":false,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":false}'></div> <p class="left">Sponsor Message</p><p class="right"><a href="/about-npr/186948703/corporate-sponsorship">Become an NPR sponsor</a></p> </aside> </div> <!-- END ID="MAIN-SIDEBAR" --> </div> <!-- END ID="WRAPPER" --> <section id="global-modal-mount"></section> <!-- END ID="GLOBAL-MODAL-MOUNT" --> <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[21],{1119:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(307)},307:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(91),c.e(73)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1091),c(62),c(76),c(36),c(167),c(124),c(63),c(65),c(1092),c(85),c(1093),c(300),c(1094),c(75),c(1095)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1119,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })(); </script> </main></body></html>