Here’s a timeline of some of January 6’s most important moments, based on CNN and other reports, congressional testimony, Justice Department court documents, and more. The times are approximate and these facts only record a part of what happened that day.
7:30 p.m.
Meadows sends text messages to Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who supported Trump’s efforts to cancel the election, according to texts obtained by CNN. Meadows tells Jordan he “pressed for it,” in response to a text Jordan sent the night before, advocating for Vice President Mike Pence to cancel the election while presiding over Congressional certification of Electoral College results . Meadows also tells Jordan that “he’s not sure it’s going to happen.”
9:24 h
Trump talks on the phone with Jordan for about 10 minutes, according to White House call logs obtained by the Washington Post.
9:52 h
Trump talks with top adviser Stephen Miller for 26 minutes, according to White House call logs obtained by the Washington Post.
Before 10 p.m.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato informed Trump that authorities at the Ellipse, where Trump was to hold a rally, found attendees with guns, including pistols, rifles, bear spray. and spears, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.
Around 10:15 p.m.
Hutchinson and Ornato report to Meadows about the armed members of the crowd forming in the Ellipse, according to Hutchinson’s testimony. Hutchinson told lawmakers that Meadows had little reaction when he spoke to him about gun reports among the crowd.
10:47 h
Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani begins his speech at the Ellipse rally, urging lawmakers to cancel the election and tells the crowd, “Let’s have a trial for combat.” Giuliani shares a podium with another right-wing lawyer, John Eastman, the architect of a plan backed by Trump for Pence to undo the results while chairing the joint session of Congress that day, where lawmakers certify the winner of the Electoral College.
Before 12 noon
Trump tells his staff to “take out the fucking magazines,” referring to the metal detectors on the security line for his Ellipse rally, because those attending the rally “weren’t here to hurt me,” according to the witness of Hutchinson. Trump wanted to increase the size of the crowd, Hutchinson said.
12 h
Trump begins his speech at the Ellipse, where he repeats many of his election lies and publicly pressures Pence to end Eastman’s legally dubious plan.
Around 1 p.m.
The pro-Trump rioters – including members of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group – overcame the first set of barriers outside the Capitol and began running toward the building. Top White House employees, including Meadows, are quickly alerted by the U.S. Secret Service that police lines are collapsing at the Capitol, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.
13:10 h
When he finishes his speech at the Ellipse, Trump asks his followers to “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” and march toward the Capitol. He also tells the crowd that he will leave with them. At the same time, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican and Trump ally, calls Hutchinson and angrily tells him not to let Trump go to the Capitol, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.
13:19 h
Trump returns to the White House. During the short return trip from the Ellipse, Trump gets angry and asks to be taken to the Capitol, but members of his security team refuse to take him there, according to Hutchinson, who stated that Ornato and another they explained the exchange to him. member of Trump’s security detail.
Around 2 p.m.
The Capitol closes when some of the first mutineers enter the building. Back in the White House, White House attorney Cipollone tells Meadows that Trump must take steps to stop the riots and that “something must be done or people will die,” according to the witness. of Hutchinson.
14:13 h
The Senate rises abruptly, amid a debate over a GOP objection to Biden’s election votes from Arizona.
14.14 h
In one of the most infamous scenes of the insurgency, QAnon supporter Doug Jensen threatens U.S. Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman, who cunningly distances Jensen from the next floor of the Senate.
Around 2.15 pm
In the White House, Cipollone tells Meadows again that Trump should intervene. Meadows responds by saying Trump “doesn’t want to do anything” about the riot and that Trump agrees with the rioters calling for Pence to be hanged, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.
2:24 p. m
Trump criticizes Pence in a tweet, criticizing Pence for refusing to implement his illegal scheme to annul the election while presiding over the joint session of Congress.
14.28 h
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and pro-Trump conspiracy theorist, tells Meadows by text message that she should “tell the president to calm people down,” according to messages obtained by CNN.
2:30 p.m.
U.S. Capitol police begin evacuating lawmakers from the House and Senate chambers, and the Secret Service evacuates Pence from the Senate floor, where he presided.
14.32 h
Fox News presenter Laura Ingraham, who promoted many of Trump’s election lies, sends a text message to Meadows that “the president must tell the people of the Capitol to go home,” according to messages obtained by CNN.
14:35 h
Former Trump acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney sends a text message to Meadows saying Trump “has to stop this, now” and offers to help, according to messages obtained by CNN.
14.38 h
Trump tweets that the mutineers should “stay at peace,” but doesn’t tell them to leave the Capitol.
14:39 h
Some of the first windows of the Capitol are shattered by Dominic Pezzola, an alleged proud boy who has been accused of seditious conspiracy. (He pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the attack.) More pro-Trump mutineers are flooded into the Capitol building after packing barricades, fighting police officers and climbing the inaugural scaffolding.
Around 2:40 p.m.
A group of Oath Keepers, a far-right extremist group, climbs among crowds of rioters in a military-style formation and enters the Capitol building. Several members of the group have been accused of seditious conspiracy.
14.44 h
Pro-Trump rioter Ashli Babbitt is fatally shot by a police officer while trying to enter the spokesman’s lobby, which is next to the House floor, while lawmakers were evacuating. At the same time, MP Barry Loudermilk, a Georgian Republican who backed Biden’s victory over his state, sends a text message to Meadows that “it’s very bad up here on the hill,” according to messages obtained for CNN.
Around 2:45 p.m.
Pro-Trump mutineers invade the Senate and break into the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
14.53 h
Donald Trump Jr. sends a text message to Meadows: “You have to condemn (sic) this shit. As soon as possible. The captiol (sic) police tweet is not enough,” according to messages obtained by CNN. Meadows responds, “I’m pushing it hard. I agree.”
Time before 3 p.m.
Trump speaks on the phone with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who asks him to convene the mob, but Trump stands on the side of the mutineers and tells McCarthy that they seem to care more about the election results than to him, according to CNN. reports.
Around 3 p.m.
White House aides are drafting a statement for Trump to release him, which would have condemned the violence and “illegal” actions of the mutineers, according to Hutchinson’s testimony. The statement was never made public.
15:09
Trump’s former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, sends a text message to Meadows: “TELL THEM TO STAY HOME !!!”, according to messages obtained by CNN.
15:13 h
Trump tweets that his supporters at the Capitol should “keep the peace,” but again doesn’t tell them to leave the venue. At the same time, former Trump Secretary of Health Tom Price sends a text message to Meadows saying, “POTUS should go on the air and turn it off,” according to messages obtained by CNN.
15:15 h
Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and chief adviser, calls the rioters “patriots” in a tweet and tells them “violence must stop,” but she doesn’t say they should leave the Capitol.
15:31 h
Fox News host Sean Hannity, who promoted many of Trump’s election lies, sends a text message to Meadows: “You can make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to leave the capital peacefully. “, according to messages obtained by CNN. Meadows replies, “In this.”
16:05
Trump Jr. he sends a text message to Meadows: “We need an oval address. Now he has to lead. He’s gone too far and got out of hand,” according to messages obtained by CNN. A few minutes later, Trump Jr. he sends another message saying, “Now Biden hits us at once.”
16:15 h
Biden utters a television address saying the Capitol attack “rages with sedition” and asking Trump to tell his supporters to “end this siege.”
16:17
Trump tweets a video, where he tells the mutineers that “you have to go home now,” but he also praises them and repeats the lie that fueled the attack itself: that the 2020 election was stolen.
18:01 h
Trump tweets that “these are the things and events that happen when a sacred election victory is stripped so unceremoniously and brutally of the great patriots.”
Around 8 p.m.
U.S. Capitol police announce the Capitol building is safe. the Senate meets again and Pence returns to the podium saying, “To those who have wreaked havoc on our capitol today, you have not won.” Senator Mitch McConnell, the House’s top Republican, describes the day’s events as a “failed insurrection.”
20:39 h
Trump talks on the phone with Giuliani for nine minutes, according to White House call records obtained by the Washington Post.
9:02 p.m.
The House meets again.
22:11 h
The Senate is voting in favor of rejecting the objection raised by GOP lawmakers to counting Arizona’s election votes, which were given to Biden because he won the popular vote in that state.
22:19 h
Trump talks to former White House strategist Steve Bannon for seven minutes, …