The Congressional committee investigating the January 6th attack
on the U. S Capitol is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow focused
on the role that extremist groups played that day.
This as the Senate gears up for a busy high stakes July. Political
correspondent Lisa Desjardin has more on the latest developments.
So hello, Lisa. I know you've been following us. So tell us where
are we? In terms of these hearings? What are they going to be focusing
on? Where are we overall in terms of the subject matter, And when
does it look as if they're going to try to finish?
Right. These are the good questions. We're all asking. Tomorrow's
hearing is the seventh hearing for the January 6th Select Committee,
and we didn't one point expect this week to be the final week for
awhile, however, that's changing. Even as we speak. I'm going to
come back to that first. Let's talk about tomorrow. What we're going
to be hearing from the committee. The focus so far has been on Trump
and what he has done his direct actions.
Tomorrow, Judy. We're going to hear more about white nationalist
groups and their ties to those around former President Trump when
he was in the White House, in particular a meeting in December that
preceded
Former president Trump tweeting out that invitation to come to the
rally on January 6th. We're going to hear probably about advisors
like like Roger Stone and their ties that the committee will try
to make two white nationalist group like the proud boys who we know
were at the Capitol and have now been arrested for their role in
the riot there. One other thing we're waiting to see what happens
with pets. Sippel on
They are former attorney that counsel for President Trump When he
was in the White House. He testified behind closed doors for eight
hours on Friday. Now my reporting is that he does not want to participate
in a public hearing. We do not expect to see him this week. We may
hear some of his hearing tomorrow, but I think the committee is going
to wait to have more of that hearing.
Further ahead and that's why we're probably we're going to have more
hearings next week. There will only be one hearing this week. Tomorrow,
the committee says. It's getting more information. And some of my
sources say that is what why the committee is going to have another
hearing next week.
We don't know exactly when these hearings will end.
And so Lisa what is known about the president, former President Trump's
close ally Steve Bannon. Do we think he's going to be testifying?
Right. As you reported the very beginning of the show. We now know
that Steve Bannon is set for trial in contempt of Congress in one
week. Those in Congress and on the committee say it's no coincidence
that all of a sudden now he wants to cooperate. They think he's a
last ditch effort to try and save himself from trial and also, they
believe that this is a sign that the committee is doing its work,
and President Trump and his allies want to respond more publicly.
We don't know yet because the committee has not frankly decided as
my reporting exactly how they're going to handle this. But here's
what one of the committee members, Zoloft grin said on television
Sunday about the idea of questioning Steve Bannon.
We got the letter around midnight from his lawyer saying that he
would testify and we have wanted him to testify. So the committee,
of course, has not yet had a chance.
To discuss it, but I expect that we will be hearing from him and
there are many questions that we have for him.
One last thing to keep in mind Judy. Whether he talks the committee
or not, doesn't affect the criminal child charges. Necessarily. He
already rejected the original subpoena. That's something the committee
might bring up.
And so Lisa is all this is going on. Meantime, in the Senate they
are looking at. I guess you could say a couple of do or die weeks
for their agenda. What does it look like there?
Okay, Roll up your sleeves. We've got a lot to talk about it, but
I'm going to try and make it sort of palatable. First two very important.
Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer, two top Democrats are now
negotiating fully for sort of a final or perhaps a last kind of narrowed
version of the president's agenda. Used to be called, Build back
better. Well, as you know, Joe Manchin blocked that now they're talking
about what could be left.
And there is a potential outlined starting to emerge for with Qatar
reconciliation or sort of Biden Agenda deal. But Judy There are some
problems here in terms of tactics and some important negotiating
stances. I want to talk about
There are a number of high stakes bill. So let's look at what's happening
in the next three weeks. What we should be watching three high stakes
bills are moving that have some bipartisan support one on China competitiveness
and the need for the U. S. To make microchips in particular and work
on manufacturing and processors. Those kinds of ingredients also
an insulin drug pricing bill that would reduce the price of insulin
and also a bill. There is an agreement bipartisan agreement on reforming
the Electoral Count Act.
The problems with that act. Of course, we're factor in January. 6th.
All of those bills have some kind of bipartisan momentum right now.
The problem is at the same time Now we have
The Democrats talking about perhaps this combination reconciliation
and build a mansion. Schumer idea, which would include drug prices
and climate change, that narrow kind of Biden agenda, Bill that is
a partisan bill.
So where are we? Senator McConnell Republican leader has said if
that partisan reconciliation bill moves forward than those other
bills, the bipartisan efforts, especially the China Bill.
He would block them. So we're in this kind of standoff where all
of these bills are connected to one another duty and it's going to
be very important because each one of them has very critical implications
for our country.
No question and we will see how these weeks coming weeks. Play out.
Lisa Desjardin watching it all very closely. Thank you, Lisa.
And we will have live coverage of the January 6th committee hearing
that Lisa was just telling us about that begins tomorrow at one PM
Eastern, here on PBS and streaming online at PBs dot org slash news
hour.
Mhm