ALL: (CHANT) Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
MAN: (SHOUTS) Here it comes, everybody! Here it comes!
MAN: Oh, shit, they're going in! They're going in!
Holy fuck.
They fucking breached the fucking entrance.
They fucking breached Holy shit!
Holy fuck!
(SHOUTING)
MAN: Let's go!
Let's go! Fuck yeah!
Holy shit, there are so many people.
MAN: Let's go! Seize the guards!
(SHOUTING)
MAN: Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
MAN: Open the door!
WOMAN: It's mid-afternoon on Insurrection Day
and the mob has found its way to the entrance of the Speaker's Lobby.
MAN: Let me through. I got a knife. I got a knife.
MAN: Break it down! Break it down! Break it down!
MAN: Break it down! Break it down! (SHOUTING)
Behind the locked doors and makeshift barricades
is the inner sanctum of US politics,
hung with the portraits of past lawmakers.
hung with the portraits MAN: Fuck the blue!
Further down the corridor are doors to the house chamber,
where congressmen and women are trapped.
MAN: There's a gun! There's a gun! There's a gun!
MAN: He's got a gun. He's got a gun!
(SHOUTING)
(GUN FIRES) MAN: Oh! Oh!
(GUN FIRES) (SHOUTING)
Shots fired!
The all-too familiar Shots fired!
The all-too familiar American tableau.
The all-too familiar MAN: Stop! Stop! Stop!
Ashli Babbit, the dying woman,
is a veteran of the Afghan and Iraq wars.
(SHOUTING)
She will soon become a martyr
for the extremists in the Trump movement.
for the extremists (SHOUTING)
Like so many of these people,
she was inspired to come here by her beloved President.
(SHOUTING) Get back!
DONALD TRUMP: Hundreds of thousands of American patriots.
All of us here today do not want to see
our election victory stolen by emboldened radical left Democrats,
our election victory stolen by which is what they're doing.
We will never give up. which is what they're doing.
We will never give up. We will never concede.
It doesn't happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved.
It doesn't happen. You don't concede (CHEERING)
ALL: (CHANT) Our house! Our house! Our house! Our house!
MAN: Oh! This is 2021, y'all!
This is insanity. Holy shit!
Before January 6,
the desecration of America's Before January 6,
the desecration of America's cathedral of democracy
the desecration of America's was unimaginable.
Bull crap! was unimaginable.
Bull crap!
(WOMAN SHOUTS)
Freedom!
The idea that the President himself could incite such an act
The idea that the President himself was unthinkable.
MAN: We were invited here!
We were invited by MAN: We were invited here!
We were invited by the President of the United States!
We were invited by (SIREN WAILS)
Welcome to Four Corners from Washington, D.C., (SIREN WAILS)
Welcome to Four Corners from Washington, D.C.,
where the capital is locked down in the biggest security operation
since the terror attacks of 2001.
Such is the level of fear, that in recent weeks,
serious people here have been using the dread phrase "civil war".
If there's one thing that President Trump demonstrated
in his final terrifying days in office,
it's that these divided states remain vulnerable
it's that these divided states to an unscrupulous demagogue.
Tonight, how a defeated, disgraced, and now twice-impeached President
brought US democracy to the brink of destruction.
brought US democracy (SIREN WAILS)
(INDISTINCT SINGING TO THE TUNE OF THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER)
(INDISTINCT SINGING TO THE TUNE # For the land... #
(LAUGHTER)
They came on planes...
# Streaming... #
..and on buses packing up their flags and banners...
..and driving through the night, in their tens of thousands.
And on trains, gathering en route to record the moment.
You guys know who you are and this is who showed up. And on trains, gathering en route to record the moment.
You guys know who you are and this is who showed up.
ALL: (CHANT) USA! USA! USA! USA!
Impassioned, resentful and easily roused.
These self-described patriots had been called here by their President
These self-described patriots had in multiple tweets...
..beginning on December 19 with his invocation:
MAN: None of us signed up for insurrection.
We signed up for lower taxes and deregulation
and fewer involvements overseas.
And I don't think any of us ever, ever, ever in our wildest dreams and fewer involvements overseas.
And I don't think any of us ever, ever, ever in our wildest dreams
And I don't think any of us ever, expected what we were working on
would result in what happened on January 6.
(CHEERING)
So, I started out at The Ellipse. The crowd was big.
And through all these conversations I've seen, no-one talks about COVID,
so that crowd was completely mask-less almost.
(WHISTLING, CHEERING)
ALL: (CHANT) USA! USA! USA! USA!
MAN: When I arrived,
there were already many thousands of people there.
People carrying Trump flags, having signs.
I noticed a couple of Confederate flags.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
I remember my sort of early civics history classes.
I felt like it was '30s Weimar Germany.
ALL: (CHANT) I felt like it was '30s Weimar Germany.
ALL: (CHANT)
The chanting, like they were worshipping an idol,
and there isn't anything they weren't willing to do.
and there isn't anything Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump!
People might be shocked and think I'm sensationalising,
but people could never have imagined in the late '20s and early '30s People might be shocked and think I'm sensationalising,
but people could never have imagined in the late '20s and early '30s
what was going to come in 1939, you know?
And I think that that's what we're seeing the rise of,
this subversion of democracy.
MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani!
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Trump allies supplied the violent rhetoric
Trump allies ahead of the President's speech.
If they ran such a clean election,
they'd have you come in and look at the paper ballots.
Who hides evidence?
Criminals hide evidence.
Not honest people.
And if we're wrong, we will be made fools of.
But if we're right, a lot of them will go to jail.
But if we're right, (CHEERING)
So...
..let's have trial by combat.
(CHEERING)
Thank you so much for being here (CHEERING)
Thank you so much for being here today to help save America!
Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks, an ardent Trump loyalist,
Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks, was the most inflammatory.
Today is the day American patriots start taking down names
and kicking ass!
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Are you willing to do what it takes to fight for America?
(CHEERING)
Louder! Will you fight for America?
(LOUDER CHEERING)
(POP MUSIC PLAYS)
# Why isn't anybody... #
All the while, the First Family watched backstage.
There's something outlandish, clownish, and downright mad
about Don Jr's selfie video.
(POP MUSIC CONTINUES)
I think we're T-minus a couple of seconds here, guys.
So check it out, tune in. I'm gonna be live streaming.
There's dad, silent in the background,
There's dad, eyes pinned to the monitor
showing the swelling crowd he's about to send into the abyss.
Mark Meadows, an actual fighter.
One of the few.
A real fighter. Thank you, Mark.
Kimberly.
Yes. Have the courage to do the right thing. Fight!
Thank you, guys. We just really appreciate all the love and support.
It's pretty amazing.
Kimberly!
Time for a last dance before the conflagration.
Time for a last dance (POP MUSIC CONTINUES)
(CHEERING, WHISTLING)
We have hundreds of thousands of people here,
and I just want them to be recognised by the fake news media.
and I just want them to be Turn your cameras, please,
and show what's really happening out here,
because these people are not going to take it any longer.
They're not going to take it any longer.
As he had been doing since election night,
Trump railed for most of his speech
about the baseless conspiracy of fraudsters
about the baseless conspiracy who stole away his second term.
Something's wrong here, something's really wrong.
Can't have happened.
And we fight. We fight like hell.
And if you don't fight like hell,
you're not going to have a country anymore.
Even as Trump's fighting words echoed down the mall,
Even as Trump's fighting words in both houses of Congress,
a large number of Republicans were preparing to vote
against the certification of Joe Biden's election win,
against the certification some out of fear of retribution
if they didn't do the President's bidding.
MAN: There were folks who were afraid for their families,
that the Capitol Hill police made it clear
that they were not in a position to protect their families.
That their families stay home, that they were not in a position to protect their families.
That their families stay home,
as did mine in South Carolina when That their families stay home,
as did mine in South Carolina when I was working in Washington, D.C.,
and the Capitol Hill police doesn't have the ability to protect
and the Capitol Hill police doesn't 535 families all around the country.
So I think some of them may have actually just been afraid
for their own safety.
In the Senate,
Republican leader Mitch McConnell took to his feet
Republican leader Mitch McConnell to plead with his colleagues.
We're debating a step... to plead with his colleagues.
We're debating a step...
..that has never been taken in American history.
Whether Congress should overrule the voters...
..and overturn a presidential election.
I've served 36 years in the Senate.
This'll be the most important vote I've ever cast.
If this election were overturned...
..by mere allegations from the losing side...
..our democracy would enter a death spiral.
We'd never see the whole nation accept an election again.
Every four years would be a scramble for power...
..at any cost.
(APPLAUSE)
That death spiral was only avoided
when Vice President Pence resisted Trump's pressure
when Vice President Pence and finally declared
he had no constitutional power to overturn the election.
Pursuant to the constitution and the laws of the United States...
Here's what I take away on death spiral. The constitution held.
Mike Pence is a hero. Mike Pence is an absolute American hero.
If he was as crazy as Rudy Giuliani
or some of the other people advising the President,
we could be in a real, real tough situation right now
with an unclear transfer of authority,
unclear as to who's running the government,
unclear as to who the army responds to.
unclear as to who the army And we want to be so...nice...
From his bully pulpit in the Ellipse,
Trump continued to pressure his vice president.
And we're going to have to fight much harder,
and Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us,
and Mike Pence is going to have to and if he doesn't,
that will be a sad day and if he doesn't,
that will be a sad day for our country,
because you're sworn to uphold our constitution.
because you're sworn (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Now it is up to Congress to confront
this egregious assault Now it is up to Congress to confront
this egregious assault on our democracy,
and after this, we're going to walk down and I'll be there with you...
and after this, we're going to walk (CHEERING)
..because you'll never take back our country with weakness.
You have to show strength and you have to be strong.
You have to show strength (CHEERING)
USA! USA! USA! USA!
Before the President finished speaking,
members of a gang notorious for political violence
members of a gang had gathered close to the Capitol.
Proud Boys. MAN: Yeah!
The best (BLEEP) organisation in the world.
MAN: And what is that?
(BLEEP) Proud Boys. Hell, yeah.
Alright, you wanna see how the Proud Boys got here today? Here we go.
Everybody cover up! Alright, you wanna see how the Proud Boys got here today? Here we go.
Everybody cover up!
The largest visible group were the Proud Boys.
Joe Biggs, the senior Proud Boy in D.C. that day,
Joe Biggs, the senior Proud Boy had a clear organising role.
He moved his troops to the west side of the Capitol.
He moved his troops to the west side Let's go!
Fuck this shit! You about to fuck off.
You back off! (SHOUTING)
At 12:52pm, while Trump was still speaking,
At 12:52pm, this group of Proud Boys
led a violent assault on a thinly manned barricade.
(SHOUTING)
The police were soon overwhelmed.
(SHOUTING)
An organised gang had orchestrated (SHOUTING)
An organised gang had orchestrated the first breach
An organised gang had orchestrated in the Capitol's defences.
MAN: Let's go!
Rioters streamed towards MAN: Let's go!
Rioters streamed towards the west-side Capitol steps...
Rioters streamed towards (SHOUTS)
..and the next line of police barricades.
We're not here for you! We're here for America!
We're not here for you! This is our house!
MAN: These aren't just a bunch of disorganised people
MAN: These aren't just a bunch who are quickly labelled by some
who are stupid, who are dumb, who are quickly labelled by some
who are stupid, who are dumb, who are insane.
These are highly organised, motivated zealots.
These are highly organised, USA! USA! USA!
Their belief is that the current president won the election
and that they are patriots by doing what they're doing.
and that they are patriots (APPLAUSE)
JOE BIDEN: How are you doing, man?
It was this group that Trump seemed to signal approval of
in the first Presidential debate last year.
in the first Presidential debate Are you willing tonight
to condemn white supremacists and militia groups?
Sure. I'm willing to do that. Are you prepared to specifically...
I would say...I would say almost everything I see
is from the left wing, not from the right wing.
So what are you...what are you... what are you saying?
I'm willing to do anything. I want to see peace.
Then do it, sir. Say it. Do it. Say it.
You want to call 'em... What do you want to call 'em?
Give me a name. Give me a name. White supremacists.
Go ahead. Who would you like me to condemn?
Proud Boys.
Proud Boys, stand back and stand by...
WOMAN: Did he just tell basically a Western male chauvinist club
WOMAN: Did he just tell basically that's pseudo-gang-like
with ties to white supremacy that's pseudo-gang-like
with ties to white supremacy and at times violent,
did he just tell them to stand by, as in, like, with ties to white supremacy and at times violent,
did he just tell them to stand by, as in, like,
being on the ready for potential violence that may need to happen
being on the ready for potential in the post-election period?
Where they were, say, a year ago, maybe more,
Where they were, say, a year ago, a local law enforcement concern
if they decided to show up in a group
and tried to counter somebody else's protest,
whereas now they've kind of grown and morphed into something that
truly is a national security problem.
Enrique Tarrio is the chairman of the Proud Boys,
and an ardent admirer of Donald Trump.
Let's just go back to 2020.
So it had been a pretty fierce year. The campaign was fierce.
We get up to the presidential debates.
We get up to Mm-hm.
That's where President Trump
made his first sort of clear statement about the Proud Boys.
What did you take "Stand back and stand by" to mean?
The President, when he said, "Stand back," was like, What did you take "Stand back and stand by" to mean?
The President, when he said, "Stand back," was like,
"Hey, let's take a chill pill." Right? "Let's relax."
And we did.
The more controversial portion of what he said was "stand by".
The more controversial portion And it was pretty simple to me.
And it was, "Stand by me."
And we have stood by the President.
We've stood by the President since day one.
Wasn't it a signal for you to be ready to act on his behalf?
I didn't take it that way.
And I think most of my guys didn't take it that way.
And I think most of my guys It's kind of our go-to saying now.
ALL: (CHANT) Fuck Antifa! Fuck Antifa! Fuck Antifa! Fuck Antifa!
On January 6, the Proud Boys were without their leader.
On January 6, the Proud Boys (BOOING)
Tarrio had been arrested two days earlier
Tarrio had been arrested and expelled from Washington
over his role in a rally in December
when he stripped a Black Lives Matter banner from a church
when he stripped a Black Lives Matter and burnt it in the street.
Fuck Antifa!
TARRIO: I don't care Fuck Antifa!
TARRIO: I don't care if its inflammatory.
TARRIO: I don't care I believe it's a Marxist movement.
I'm not going to apologise for it.
I did something that I felt was right.
And if another banner sits on the floor, I'll burn it again.
The FBI is now trying to determine
if he directed the actions of the Proud Boys on January 6
from a remote location.
I was about 1.5 hours away.
Um...and, uh, I'm not too worried about it.
There's a saying that a federal prosecutor
can prosecute a ham sandwich.
Right? If they wanted to.
Um...but I think they're going to have a very, very hard time with me.
Um...but I think they're going to Um...
I got...
..uh...
..I got full faith in it.
ALL: (CHANT) USA! USA!
Under orders from Tarrio,
the Proud Boy contingents that day
didn't wear their characteristic uniforms.
There's a reason why we didn't dress in our typical black and yellow,
'cause we were tired of, like, trying to walk down the street
and people asking us to take pictures with them,
and things like that.
When you posted about not wearing your uniform,
you said it was so that you wouldn't be visible,
you wouldn't be identifiable.
No, I said that you wouldn't be identifiable.
No, I said that we're going to go incognito
so people won't come take pictures of us.
so people won't come I'll have to stop you.
You cannot be making the case that you went incognito
because you were tired of being stopped and having your photos taken?
because you were tired of being I could make that case.
(PEOPLE SHOUT)
Having broken through the barricades with his men,
Proud Boy Joe Biggs is seen running up the Capitol steps,
almost indistinguishable from other rioters.
almost indistinguishable Let's just talk about Joseph Biggs.
What is his relationship to you?
Uh...one of my best friends.
The FBI alleges that he was part of the...
..of commanding the Proud Boys that day.
Is that correct? Was he there in your place?
Is that correct? Um, up until he was outside,
we did have...there was a group of leadership.
we did have...there was He was part of that leadership.
Over a long period of time He was part of that leadership.
Over a long period of time in the lead up,
you've got Proud Boys posting pictures of themselves
you've got Proud Boys with baseball bats.
You've got angry language.
You've got aggressive language.
You've got people talking about hurting the police,
You've got people killing people.
Hey. What's going on, everybody? Joe Biggs here.
I just got my new bat in from Primal customs.
I just got my new bat in It's pretty fucking epic.
It is a Trump Bastard bat.
Look at this thing.
When Biggs posts a picture Look at this thing.
When Biggs posts a picture of himself some months earlier
When Biggs posts a picture with a spiked baseball bat,
what's that for?
I think he's showing off this really cool bat that he has
that was handmade.
You know when Biggs posts a picture of himself with a weapon
that there is a message that goes with that,
and everybody understands what that message is.
Hmm. What message did he post with that?
Hmm. What message The image is the message.
It's a violent image.
A...a... Yeah.
If...if a weapon is violent,
again, I don't know the culture in Australia.
I know that you guys have heavy restrictions on guns
and stuff like that, and I don't expect you to understand that.
(SHOUTING)
Many Proud Boys, along with other organised groups,
were in the front lines of the mob attacking police barricades
were in the front lines of the mob on the western steps.
MAN: The cops are gettin' sprayed. on the western steps.
MAN: The cops are gettin' sprayed. There's a fucking fight right here.
MAN: The cops are gettin' sprayed. (BANG!)
Fuck!
Rubber bullets everywhere.
Minor YouTube celebrity Rubber bullets everywhere.
Minor YouTube celebrity Tyler Baggins filmed the melee.
(BANG!) Argh!
That one got me right in the fucking face.
(BAGPIPES PLAY SCOTLAND THE BRAVE) That one broke my fucking glasses.
Holy fuck. Look at that! (BAGPIPES PLAY SCOTLAND THE BRAVE) That one broke my fucking glasses.
Holy fuck. Look at that!
Fuckin' knocked the lens right out of my glasses. Holy fuck!
MAN: They would get pepper sprayed and sort of fall back
and then, you know, someone would say,
"We need more people on the line! Come up!" and then, you know, someone would say,
"We need more people on the line! Come up!"
"We need more people on the line! And it was just like...
It occurred to me And it was just like...
It occurred to me they were using the language of war.
MAN: Let's get some more people behind us first.
WOMAN: How do you call yourself an American?
BAGGINS: Oh, right with a fuckin' 4x4 post right to the head!
I need more water. I need more water.
MAN: It's a motherfucking revolution. Let's take this shit.
PALU: It was like this quick-moving set of dominos that were falling.
It was like a medieval siege.
That cop's getting agitated. They're starting to fight with him.
That cop's getting agitated. Hell, yeah! Get on the ground!
I can't call them protesters anymore, actually.
MAN: You fucking Communist fucking bastards!
MAN: You fucking Fuck you!
This is a violent angry mob
pushing up the steps, knocking the police over with the shields,
moving up to the upper level of the Capitol.
moving up to the upper level MAN: Guys, take a look at this!
So we're up here on the scaffolding
outside of the United States Capitol.
This is insanity!
MAN: I can't believe this is reality. We accomplished this shit.
MAN: I can't believe this is We did this shit together!
Fuck, yeah.
This is fucking history!
BAGGINS: Hell, yeah! Whoa! What the fuck? They broke through. It's on.
The cops are beating the fuck out of that guy.
WOMAN: Stop hitting him, you stupid fuck!
WOMAN: Stop hitting him, Good luck, punk!
From high in the temporary scaffolding
erected for Joe Biden's inauguration,
Tyler Baggins captures the moment the crowd broke through
Tyler Baggins captures the moment at the Capitol's west entrance.
It's over!
You better run, cops!
MAN: You better fucking run!
See how fast the cops turn around
once they fucking saw See how fast the cops turn around
once they fucking saw the numbers game!
It was a numbers game.
Crowds began pouring up the stairs,
scaling walls like an invading army,
led at many points by trained far-right militias
led at many points with body armour and weapons.
(SHOUTING)
PALU: Baseball bats, converted pieces of wood,
like, 2x4s that were turned into, like, bats.
I saw hammers, metal expandable batons. like, 2x4s that were turned into, like, bats.
I saw hammers, metal expandable batons.
A lot of people were openly carrying
some form of a pepper spray or bear spray, mace,
and they had gas masks, so the tear gas was useless.
They had body armour on. They had helmets.
(SHOUTING)
They had radios, they had military gear,
and just the manner in which they moved,
and just the manner not only individually but in groups,
a lot of these people had not only individually but in groups,
a lot of these people had some form of military training.
There was a strategy to all this. This was a planned attack.
There is a movement of how they have their hands on each others' backs
and move together
and how they attacked the doors and pushed the doors down.
I've never seen this level of organisation, actually.
ALL: (CHANT) USA! USA! USA! USA!
(BANG!) USA!
(BANG!) USA! USA!
(BANG!) (CROWD ROARS)
Elizabeth Neumann was a senior official in Homeland Security,
Elizabeth Neumann was a senior appointed by President Trump.
She quit last year
because of the administration's She quit last year
because of the administration's failure
because of the administration's to confront right-wing extremism.
It is apparent that the FBI had information
It is apparent a few days before the attack
that indicated the types of things
that, I have to say, if it were a...
..coming from an Islamist terrorism perspective,
they would have treated as a specific credible threat
because of the level of detail of the information
that they had been able to glean from people talking online.
It included things like layout of the Capitol, entry points,
It included things like how to get to the individuals
that they might want to be how to get to the individuals
that they might want to be getting in front of.
It really is mind-boggling that the FBI had this information.
It really is mind-boggling Reportedly, they shared it.
It is not clear to me with whom they shared.
None of the normal protocols that you usually do
in terrorist threats like this were followed,
either by the FBI or my former organisation,
either by the FBI the Department of Homeland Security.
MAN: The way that they were the Department of Homeland Security.
MAN: The way that they were moving through the crowds,
the way that they equipped themselves,
the fact that there was IEDs and pipe bombs
that were laid in strategic places,
their ability to move through the place, that were laid in strategic places,
their ability to move through the place,
their ability which means they had studied it.
Congressman Ruben Gallego, a former marine,
also recognised signs of military strategy.
They entered through, you know, very isolated areas that were not secure.
They knew to scale certain parts of the walls
They knew to scale to get them into even smaller...
..even get them into the House
that were normally unprotected ..even get them into the House
that were normally unprotected and very hard to reach.
that were normally unprotected (GLASS SHATTERS)
Caught on camera with a riot shield is another senior Proud Boy.
Caught on camera with a riot shield (SHOUTING)
Here, the same man, Dominic Pezzola,
is seen smashing a window into the Capitol
and directing others through the opening.
It's believed to be the first breach of the building itself.
(SHOUTING)
Soon afterwards, his comrade Joe Biggs follows him inside.
Soon afterwards, his comrade (SHOUTING)
Proud Boy Pezzola, in the corridor.
What he did and said inside the Capitol
What he did and said is now the subject of FBI charges.
The FBI says it has a witness is now the subject of FBI charges.
The FBI says it has a witness who claims that he and others stated
they intended to kill... Mm.
..Nancy Pelosi and Vice-President Mike Pence.
..Nancy Pelosi Yeah.
Did you send members Yeah.
Did you send members of the Proud Boys into the Capitol
Did you send members to lynch members of the government?
No. Absolutely not.
Ever.
In my opinion, there's nothing scarier than a white mob,
In my opinion, there's nothing especially in the United States.
And, um, it...it did not surprise me
that once they got in that the momentum just started going.
that once they got in that USA! USA! USA! USA!
With the momentum of, like, a whole mob behind them,
it's very, very dangerous.
And they would've, I think they would've,
had they gotten hold of members of Congress,
they probably would have tried to kill those.
You want a fight? You better believe...
MAN: There was definitely a mob mentality.
I think if they'd got to somebody, if they'd got to Nancy Pelosi, MAN: There was definitely a mob mentality.
I think if they'd got to somebody, if they'd got to Nancy Pelosi,
I think they'd have probably killed her.
(CHANTING AND YELLING)
The mob rampaged through the corridors
searching for the politicians they'd branded traitors.
Even as Capitol security collapsed,
House Republicans were on their feet
in a last ditch effort House Republicans were on their feet
in a last ditch effort to overturn Biden's victory.
Over 400,000 mail-in ballots were altered, in a last ditch effort to overturn Biden's victory.
Over 400,000 mail-in ballots were altered,
switched from President Trump to Vice-President Biden,
or completely erased from President Trump's totals.
I was preparing my notes
and talking to other members of congress from Arizona
because we were supposed to defend the Arizona electoral count.
And we started hearing some commotion outside the chambers.
Madam...uh...
Mr Speaker, can I have order in the chamber?
(BANGS GAVEL) The House will be in order.
(BANGS GAVEL) In the confusion, the Secret Service
began evacuations In the confusion, the Secret Service
began evacuations of senior lawmakers.
began evacuations The House will be in order. OK.
(SHOUTING FROM CORRIDOR)
GALLEGO: Nancy Pelosi had just been whisked away,
which is another indication that things were about to go bad.
The sound was a combination of chaos from the people on the floor,
and then, just, you know, loud shouting
and, like, pounding at doors all around us.
Uh, and it was, um...
..it was wild.
At this point, we are told to put on this gas mask.
People are not doing it either correctly
or they're freaking out and they're hyperventilating.
or they're freaking out So I got on a desk
and started shouting instructions So I got on a desk
and started shouting instructions about what to do with the gas mask,
about staying calm, and explained how to open it up.
(SHOUTING)
Get away from the door! Back up!
Back up! Get away from the door!
GALLEGO: Security drew guns.
You know, if I had one, I would have felt a little better,
but there was very little security, actually, in the chamber.
We respect the law! We were good people!
We respect the law! The government did this to us.
We were normal, good, The government did this to us.
We were normal, good, law-abiding citizens,
We were normal, good, and you guys did this to us.
We want our country back!
We are protesting for our freedom right now!
That's the difference!
This is our country and this is our House.
This is our country That's it.
This is our House.
This is our country. This is our House.
This is our country. This is our country.
MAN: It's not gonna fucking end well!
No! No, it's not!
Like most of the nation No! No, it's not!
Like most of the nation and much of the world,
Trump's former chief of staff was watching the insurrection live.
Trump's former chief of staff WOMAN: Bullshit!
He turned to Twitter, WOMAN: Bullshit!
He turned to Twitter,
through to the President by phone.
having failed to get through to the President by phone.
MULVANEY: I did take that very unusual step for me,
especially of tweeting at the President,
knowing that he would see it. at the President,
knowing that he would see it.
After witnessing the desecration of a place that means so much to you,
what did you expect the President to do?
To go on TV and say, "No, no, no, no. Stop now.
"This is... I did not want this. Do not... You are not helping me.
"You are not patriots. This is not right.
"You need to stop right now and leave the building."
And the fact that he didn't, what does that tell you?
It bothered me a great deal. That's why I resigned.
And it will colour my opinion of the President forever.
I was a national campaign co-chair for Donald Trump.
I ran Catholics for Trump in the campaign.
I ran Catholics for Trump I worked for him for four years
in, I think, three or four I worked for him for four years
in, I think, three or four different positions.
The President did not have a stronger supporter
The President did not have than I did before January 6.
ALL: (CHANT) TREASON! TREASON! TREASON!
As insurgents raged through the Capitol,
at 2:24pm, President Trump tweeted:
(CHANTING) Hang Mike Pence!
At the north entrance,
I hear the crowds begin to shout "Hang Mike Pence, hang Mike Pence,"
I hear the crowds begin to shout and it was just mind-blowing to me.
These were insurrectionists
calling for the death of the These were insurrectionists
calling for the death of the vice president of the United States.
calling for the death of the Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!
As a lifelong Republican,
what do you think about the way he singled out Mike Pence?
Do you reproach him for that? Yes.
Why? Unforgivable. Just not...
Mike Pence is one of the most decent, honest, loyal people Why? Unforgivable. Just not...
Mike Pence is one of the most decent, honest, loyal people
you are ever going to meet in your entire life.
And I understand the President did not ever call him
during the riot to check on his wellbeing.
during the riot And that is inexcusable.
(SHOUTING)
Soon after the first insurrectionists
broke into the building,
Officer Eugene Goodman broke into the building,
Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the angry mob on his own.
Officer Eugene Goodman (SHOUTING)
Second floor!
He called for assistance as he ran up several flights,
leading them away from the Senate chamber.
(SHOUTING)
MAN: It was a matter of seconds and a matter of feet.
If the police officer had not led the protestors to the left
as they came up the stairs, and instead they had gone right,
they would have come to one of the main doors into the Senate.
Just feet from Pence's ceremonial office, where he was taken to. they would have come to one of the main doors into the Senate.
Just feet from Pence's ceremonial office, where he was taken to.
And if they had tried to get into either the Senate chamber there
or Pence's office at that moment, it would've been a blood bath.
MAN: Let me through. I've got a knife. I got a knife.
On the House side, Ruben Gallego and his fellow lawmakers
were finally evacuated in the clear sight of rioters
trying to break into the Speaker's Lobby.
As I look left, I saw the protesters at the door,
pounding the door.
And two security personnel there.
That basically was it between us and this rabid crowd.
And what was the physical distance
between where you were and where they were?
I'd say maybe 30... 30 feet at this point.
I was so close I could take a picture. I'd say maybe 30... 30 feet at this point.
I was so close I could take a picture.
I did take a picture, actually. I could take a picture.
I did take a picture, actually.
Senators, their staff and journalists
were moved through tunnels to secure locations in the basement.
At one point I heard a Capitol police officer
tell two other younger police officers to stand in this one spot,
and if they were approached that they were supposed to shoot.
I could actually hear the rioters one hallway over and if they were approached that they were supposed to shoot.
I could actually hear the rioters one hallway over
as they were moving, I think,
up towards the chamber we were just in.
FBI investigators claim that intelligence on the location
of the politicians hidden in secret basement rooms
was being sent on Facebook to a militiaman inside the Capitol.
Other trained militia members
were using the walkie talkie app Zello
for real-time communications inside the Capitol.
Ashli Babbitt, another war veteran and a QAnon fanatic,
would pay with her life for her last mission
to reverse Trump's election defeat.
MAN: There's a gun! There's a gun!
MAN: He's got a gun!
He's got a gun!
OK, back. (GUNSHOT)
Oh! Oh!
Shots fired!
Get back!
She knew exactly what was happening. She broke through. She was warned.
She knew exactly what was happening. And it's unfortunate,
but I hope that police officer knows that he should have no regrets.
Secure in the White House, Donald Trump watched for hours
as the worst crisis of his presidency unfolded on live TV.
That's where the President lost me was in his actions during the riot.
He had a chance on the biggest stage
at the most important time in my lifetime -
which is what it was - to be presidential.
which is what it was - And I think he failed in that.
His legacy is now going to be And I think he failed in that.
His legacy is now going to be that he was somehow tied.
His legacy is now going to be Was it incitement to riot?
I don't know, but he was not blameless in what happened
I don't know, but he was not on January 6.
And that, I think, on January 6.
And that, I think, is going to be his legacy
and that's what makes us all very, very disappointed.
As reinforced police began to expel insurgents from the Capitol
in increasingly violent clashes,
the White House released the President's videoed message
the White House released to the rioters.
I know your pain.
I know you're hurt.
We had an election that was stolen from us.
It was a landslide election and everyone knows it,
especially the other side.
But you have to go home now.
We have to have peace.
We have to have law and order.
We have to respect our great people We have to have law and order.
We have to respect our great people in law and order.
We have to respect our great people So go home.
We love you, you're very special.
I know how you feel.
But go home and go home in peace.
To go on TV afterwards, late in the afternoon
and say that, "Go home. We love you."
No, we don't. No.
We don't love people who break glass,
We don't love people storm into the Capitol building
for the purpose of disrupting the constitutional transfer of power.
We don't love people who take actions that lead to the death
of innocent people, of law enforcement.
of innocent people, Those are not the people we love.
(SHOUTING)
Alright, let's go! Move.
Six of Enrique Tarrio's Proud Boys, including two key lieutenants,
have already been indicted for their actions on January 6.
(CHANT) Whose streets? Our streets!
As federal investigators hone in on the group,
there have been calls for stringent new laws
there have been to combat domestic terrorism.
It's inauguration day in Washington
and there's so many troops and police on the ground,
and there's so many troops so many roadblocks,
that Proud Boys and other extremists so many roadblocks,
that Proud Boys and other extremists have vowed to stay away.
It remains tense.
The memories of January 6 are still raw.
(SIRENS WAIL)
JOE BIDEN: We've learned again that democracy is precious.
Democracy is fragile.
And at this hour, my friends, Democracy is fragile.
And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.
And at this hour, my friends, (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
So now, on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago
violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation,
we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible,
to carry out the peaceful transfer of power.
The inauguration's taking place on the other side of town
and it feels like a very long way from where we are here in Anacostia,
where the locals, already suffering before the virus,
really understand the impacts of racism on their daily lives.
(RAP MUSIC PLAYS)
Black lives matter.
Overcrowded prisons.
Inhumane conditions.
Full of my people.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
See, that's what I'm saying about people.
They don't have nothing on their minds,
They don't have nothing nowhere to go.
How y'all doing today?
Today's a nice day the Lord has gifted.
Today's a nice day (LAUGHTER)
Anacostia is the poorest neighbourhood in the capital.
Local black activist Arianna Evans comes here to hand out free clothes
and food to people who have little of both.
No-one here seems too interested in the big event
taking place just over the river.
Joe Biden's being inaugurated, but you're not watching. Why not?
I'm not watching because Joe Biden doesn't really represent me Joe Biden's being inaugurated, but you're not watching. Why not?
I'm not watching because Joe Biden doesn't really represent me
or my generation,
or any of the values that I hold as a human being.
Is it still a relief to you that Donald Trump is going?
Is it still a relief to you Absolutely. It's my birthday.
It's the best birthday gift Absolutely. It's my birthday.
It's the best birthday gift I've ever gotten.
The events of January 6 only served to increase Arianna's cynicism.
I saw a bunch of entitled white people
getting what they want in this country, as they always have.
They always been treated that way,
which is the reason why they felt comfortable enough
to storm the Capitol in the first place.
They did this because they knew they could.
When they walked through the corridors,
when they walked through the velvet ropes,
all organised like it was a school trip -
this is why they believe it's their country.
All I saw when I saw that smug white man
sitting in that chair with his feet kicked up on the speaker's desk
was, like, this is what white privilege looks like.
What would have happened if you and your fellow protesters
What would have happened had tried to do what they did?
We would have been dead on the grass.
We wouldn't have even made it to the stairs.
We wouldn't have made it to the white marble,
'cause they wouldn't want to spray our blood off of that.
We would have been dead in the grass.
Under the marble eyes of the president
who presided over America's last civil war,
who presided over soldiers barracked in the Capitol
record their visit here with photographs.
Thousands of them will remain
throughout Donald Trump's upcoming Senate trial.
The route from the Ellipse to the Capitol,
so recently full of that angry chanting mob, is quiet again now,
restored to the locals and to sightseers.
The echoes of that whipped-up rage are gone now,
but they'll be heard again as evidence in Trump's Senate trial.
The Capitol itself has been swept clean,
but it remains the corrupted citadel of a democracy
that proved to be fragile and vulnerable to a president's lies.
NEUMANN: The concern I have from a security perspective
is when you have 50 million people in this country
that believe in this big lie
because it hasn't been thoroughly debunked enough,
because it hasn't been then some small percentage -
maybe it's only one percent,
but one percent maybe it's only one percent,
but one percent is 500,000 people -
500,000 people willing to commit acts of violence,
that, while we have really great security services in this country,
it's very difficult to take on a 500,000 violent mob, if you will.
There is a population of this country
that has gotten used to always being on top
and not having to share power or wealth
or anything else like that.
And now they have to do that, and they have to compete.
And psychologically, it's breaking them.
MAN: I had no idea we were this close to violence in this country.
MAN: I had no idea we were this I knew we were divided.
I knew that people were unhappy on both sides.
I had no idea that we were this close to breaking that democracy
as we came on January 6.
I think it's a lesson for us.
And I think it's a lesson for other Western-style democracies
that things are not necessarily as safe and stable as they may appear.
What lessons will America learn from this deep rupture to its soul?
In due course, there'll be an investigation into the insurrection,
its causes, the intelligence and policing failures.
But for now, the Senate will be transformed into a court
But for now, the Senate to try the impeached president.
For so long, the Republicans bent so much to one man's will
that many began calling it the Trump Party.
Now it seems likely the senators will vote
Now it seems likely to acquit the disgraced president,
allowing him to claim a final victory.
That will pose a huge challenge for President Biden
and his promise to unite the country.
Next week on Four Corners,
we examine Joe Biden's long road to the presidency.
we examine Joe Biden's long road (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
The people of this nation (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
The people of this nation have spoken.
They've delivered us a clear victory.
They've delivered us A convincing victory.
A victory for we the people.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
This man who's wanted to be president for half a century...
..and failed to do it over and over
and now finds himself at this moment of really abject national crisis,
and that's the moment
when the country sees him for the first time, really.
(CHEERING)
I don't think any president, certainly in my lifetime,
has faced the problems that Joe Biden will face
as the new president.
To do it when the country is as divided as it is
will test every bit of what Joe Biden has learned
over nearly 50 years in public office.
Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation