Donald Trump knew supporters had weapons when he urged them to storm the Capitol to overturn the 2020 election, a former White House aide has said.
Ex-aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified to the committee probing the 6 January 2021 riots that Mr. Trump and his top staff knew the potential for violence.
But a planned rally went ahead, with Mr. Trump saying the armed attendees were “not here to hurt me”.
The president also demanded to join the march on the Capitol himself, she said.
Up until now, the congressional panel was missing testimony from inside the room – someone who could offer a first-hand account of the situation in the White House in the critical hours before and during the attack. END
