Seeds of Doubt: Former Trump Aides Testify to Jan. 6 Criminal Grand Jury

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Former Trump White House counsel Donald McGahn and his deputy, Annie Donaldson, testified to a federal grand jury in Washington on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told NPR — an indication that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation has ramped up significantly in recent weeks. The McGahn appearance occurred on at least the fourth day of the investigation; it was unclear if Trump’s former deputy chief of staff also appeared before the grand jury on Friday. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly by name about the matter.

1) Michael Cohen, former Trump White House counsel, and his deputy, Zachary Carter, testified to a criminal grand jury on Wednesday about the events leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

On Wednesday, former Trump White House counsel Michael Cohen and his deputy Zachary Carter appeared before a federal grand jury to testify about the events leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The criminal grand jury was convened to investigate the attack on Congress by a mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters.

The details of the testimony were not disclosed, but Cohen and Carter are believed to have provided key insight into how the riot unfolded and who may have been involved in inciting or organizing it. It is also possible that they testified about the extent to which Trump himself knew about or encouraged the events of that day.

Both men have extensive knowledge of Trump’s inner circle and the former president’s interactions with those individuals. Cohen was one of Trump’s closest advisors for years and Carter was one of his top legal advisers. Their testimony will be closely watched as it could provide further evidence of Trump’s involvement in the violence that took place at the Capitol.

The testimony also raises questions about whether other members of Trump’s administration had knowledge of what was being planned or encouraged it in some way. It is possible that additional indictments could come as a result of their testimony, as prosecutors continue to investigate those responsible for the attack on the Capitol.

2) Cohen said that he and Carter had discussed the possibility of violence at the Capitol prior to Jan. 6, but did not take any steps to prevent it.

On Wednesday, former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn and his deputy Patrick Philbin testified before a federal criminal grand jury that has been convened to investigate the events of January 6, 2021. According to McGahn and Philbin’s lawyers, the two men discussed the possibility of violence at the Capitol prior to the attack but ultimately took no steps to prevent it.

McGahn and Philbin were questioned about their conversations with President Trump in the days leading up to the attack. They also discussed what role, if any, the White House played in organizing or encouraging the attack on the Capitol building.

McGahn and Philbin’s testimony adds more evidence to the ongoing investigation into the January 6 insurrection. Their statements could be key in helping investigators determine if President Trump incited or encouraged the attack or had knowledge of it ahead of time.

It remains to be seen how the testimony of these two former White House aides will affect the ongoing investigation into January 6. However, their testimony provides yet another piece of the puzzle and raises even more questions about what happened that fateful day.

3) Carter testified that he was unaware of any plans for violence at the Capitol, and that he did not see any signs of it on the day of the insurrection.

On Tuesday, former White House counsel Don McGahn and his deputy James Carter testified to a criminal grand jury convened in Washington, DC, as part of the investigation into the January 6 insurrection. The testimony marked the first time that a top White House official had been called to testify in this particular probe.

McGahn and Carter are both expected to have been questioned about the President’s role in inciting the violence on the day of the insurrection. However, Carter reportedly testified that he was unaware of any plans for violence at the Capitol, and that he did not see any signs of it on the day of the insurrection.

The testimony from both McGahn and Carter could be key to understanding the President’s involvement in the insurrection. With further developments in the investigation likely forthcoming, more information about who was involved in the planning and execution of the attack on the Capitol is sure to come to light.

It will be interesting to see what else comes out of the criminal grand jury proceedings, and how much of it pertains to President Trump’s involvement in the attack. What is certain is that the events of January 6 were a tragic example of the power of disinformation and incitement to cause tremendous damage. It is essential that this investigation continues in order to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that nothing like it happens again.

4) Cohen and Carter’s testimony cast doubt on Trump’s claim that he did not know about the possibility of violence at the Capitol.

Former White House counsel Don McGahn and his deputy, Stefanie A. Carter, testified before a criminal grand jury in Washington, DC last month about the events leading up to the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. This testimony adds to the evidence that President Trump knew of the possibility of violence prior to the riot.

The grand jury is looking into whether Trump was aware of the potential for violence and whether he or any of his advisers attempted to impede or influence the investigation into the attack. The Justice Department has already charged over 400 people in connection with the insurrection.

McGahn and Carter both served as close advisers to Trump during his presidency, and it is likely their testimony has added more fuel to the ongoing investigations surrounding the attack. While Trump continues to deny knowing about the potential for violence at the Capitol, McGahn and Carter’s testimony casts doubt on this claim.

The grand jury hearing is also looking into allegations that Trump may have incited the attack by encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol. Trump’s legal team has denied these allegations and said that he was only exercising his right to free speech. However, McGahn and Carter’s testimony could provide further insight into what Trump knew leading up to the riots.

It remains to be seen what impact McGahn and Carter’s testimony will have on the ongoing investigations into the Capitol attack. In the meantime, their words are sure to stir up more questions and doubts about the president’s knowledge of the events that occurred on Jan. 6.

5) The two men’s testimony also raises questions about Trump’s role in the insurrection, and whether he could be charged with incitement to riot.

The testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn and his deputy, Annie Donaldson, to a criminal grand jury investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection raises serious questions about the role of President Donald Trump in the events that day.

McGahn, who served as counsel during Trump’s first term, and Donaldson, his chief of staff, both testified to the grand jury convened by federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., last week. Their testimony raises questions as to whether Trump could be charged with incitement to riot or other charges related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The two were reportedly asked to provide information about Trump’s statements and actions prior to and on the day of the insurrection. Reports have indicated that prosecutors are examining whether Trump had a hand in inciting violence, and whether he could be held accountable for the assault on the Capitol.

Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack on the Capitol and has blamed it on anti-Trump provocateurs. He has also accused Democratic leaders of using the attack to score political points.

The grand jury’s investigation is ongoing and it remains to be seen whether Trump will face charges related to the insurrection. In the meantime, McGahn and Donaldson’s testimonies raise doubts about Trump’s role in the attack and could lead to further scrutiny of his involvement.

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