The January 6th Report: Executive Summary

As we begin this journey into the events leading to and surrounding January 6th, it is essential to understand the foundation upon which the storm was built: the Big Lie. This lie was not a mere slip of the tongue or an impromptu claim; it was a deliberate and premeditated strategy. On election night 2020, despite clear indications from his campaign advisors that the counting process was ongoing and that mail-in ballots would shift the apparent lead, the former President declared victory prematurely. This declaration was a strategic move to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the vote counting process and to sow seeds of distrust among millions of Americans.

Legal experts and courts across the nation, including judges appointed by the President himself, thoroughly examined the numerous lawsuits alleging election fraud. They consistently found these claims to be without merit, dismissing them for lack of credible evidence and, in some cases, condemning the legal strategies as abuses of the judicial process. Yet, despite these setbacks, the false narrative persisted and was amplified through fundraising campaigns that leveraged the fear and anger of supporters.

Behind closed doors, however, the reality was starkly different. Senior campaign officials, Justice Department leaders, and White House lawyers repeatedly informed the President that the election was not stolen. They presented evidence and investigations that disproved the fraud allegations, urging acceptance of the lawful results. But the public face was one of defiance and denial, a chasm between truth and rhetoric that deepened divisions and set the stage for what was to come.

Consider the example of a campaign manager who, recognizing the futility of the false claims, deliberately distanced himself from the efforts to spread misinformation, locking his office door to keep out those who championed baseless theories. Or the former Attorney General who publicly stated that the Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread fraud, despite pressure to say otherwise.

This section teaches us the profound power of misinformation and the dangers when truth is sacrificed for political gain. It also reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming evidence, falsehoods can take root if amplified by leaders and media.

As we move forward, we will explore how this Big Lie translated into concrete actions aimed at overturning the election, involving not just words but coordinated plans and pressure on constitutional actors. The story unfolds from deception to direct attempts to subvert the democratic process.