Trump Official Declines to Call January 6 an ‘Attack’, Describing ‘Protests and Such’
Don Berthiaume, Trump nominee for inspector general at justice department, pressed by senators amid confirmation
TL;DR
- Don Berthiaume, a career justice department employee, is undergoing confirmation to permanently serve as inspector general.
- During his confirmation hearing, Berthiaume was asked about the 2020 election, to which he responded, 'Joe Biden, as certified by the Senate.'
- He declined to call the events of January 6, 2021, an 'attack,' instead referring to 'activity outside the Capitol, protests and such,' while acknowledging physical violence.
- A Democratic senator criticized Berthiaume's response as a 'most obvious understatement' and a failure of a test for prospective independence.