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The House Select Committee that investigated January 6th is now accused of hiding evidence bolstering former President Donald Trump's claims about that day.
Congressman Barry Loudermilk, the chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee, says that testimony from former White House deputy chief of staff Anthony Ornato that proves former President Donald Trump was "willing to ask for" 10,000 National Guard troops was suppressed.
When interviewed by the committee in 2022, Ornato was asked whether he recalled "any discussion prior to the 6th about whether and how many National Guard troops to deploy on January 6th."
"I remember he had — he was on the phone with her, and we — I had walked in for something, and I was there, and he was on the phone with her and wanted to make sure she had everything that she needed. Because I think it was the concern of anti and pro groups clashing is what I recall. And not anywhere near the Capitol, this was just out on the mall area or at the event; and wanted to know if she need[ed] any more guardsmen," Ornato said.
"And I remember the number 10,000 coming up of, you know, the President wants to make sure that you have enough. You know, he is willing to ask for 10,000. I remember that number. Now that you said it, it reminded me of it. And that she was all set. She had, I think it was like 350 or so for intersection control and those types of thing not in the law enforcement capacity at the time," he continued.
"And then that's the only thing I recall with that number 10,000 National Guard guardsmen."
"This is just one example of important information the former Select Committee hid from the public because it contradicted what they wanted the American people to believe. And, this is exactly why my investigation is committed to uncovering all the facts, no matter the outcome," Loudermilk said in a statement.