Former GOP representative Liz Cheney has expressed her concerns about the possibility of former President Trump being re-elected in 2024. Cheney’s fears stem from the recent release of a “hidden transcript” that allegedly shows the Jan. 6 congressional committee falsely claiming that there was no evidence of the Trump administration requesting National Guard assistance. Georgia Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk released a transcript of former White House deputy chief of staff Anthony Ornato’s interview with the committee, which contradicts the committee’s findings. Ornato’s testimony reveals that President Trump did offer 10,000 National Guard troops to secure the U.S. Capitol, but the offer was turned down. This revelation challenges the committee’s conclusion that there was no evidence of the Trump administration calling for National Guard members to protect the Capitol.
The committee, composed of seven Democrats and two former Republican Congress members, including Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, found “no evidence” to support the claim that the Trump administration requested National Guard assistance. Trump has consistently maintained that he made the request but that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi failed to act on it. The Washington Post and other media outlets have repeatedly debunked Trump’s claims, awarding him “Four Pinocchios.”
Loudermilk’s release of Ornato’s transcript reveals that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows asked D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to request additional protection for the city. Ornato confirmed in his interview that Meadows wanted to ensure there were enough guardsmen to handle the potential clashes between anti- and pro-groups. Although Bowser ultimately requested just over 300 National Guard members, Ornato stated that the White House asked the Defense Department to have a “quick reaction force” on standby. This contradicts the committee’s claim that the Trump administration did not call for additional National Guard presence.
Ornato’s testimony also sheds light on the White House’s response when supporters of former President Trump breached the Capitol. The White House called on acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller to deploy assistance. Ornato recalled Meadows asking why the National Guard was taking so long to arrive and expressing urgency in getting control of the situation.
Critics of the committee, including Loudermilk, argue that they suppressed Ornato’s testimony because it contradicted their predetermined narrative. Loudermilk, who chairs the House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight, is conducting an investigation into the committee’s handling of the Jan. 6 investigation.
The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway reported that Liz Cheney allegedly orchestrated a pressure campaign to prevent the Defense Department from deploying resources on Jan. 6, 2021. Cheney responded to the report on social media, referring to it as “BS.” Former President Trump has also accused Cheney of deleting evidence related to the committee’s investigation.
The release of Ornato’s transcript raises questions about the committee’s findings and their handling of the investigation. It remains to be seen how this new information will impact the ongoing discourse surrounding the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
