Press Advisory and Statement: Congressman Cohen to Speak at a Hearing Marking Five Years Since the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who was in House Chamber when insurrectionists attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, will question witnesses and testify at a special House hearing on the fifth anniversary of that violent attempt to subvert democracy. The hearing will focus on what happened and the importance of accountability. Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“I was in the House Chamber when the rioters began smashing the doors as armed Capitol Police tried to hold them at bay. I retreated to my office and locked the doors, arming myself with a commemorative baseball bat. The threat to our democracy was real and it was instigated by Donald Trump. People died. On this solemn anniversary, the American people should know and accept the facts. I’m proud to have been asked to participate in this hearing about that terrible day.
“January 6th produced many heroes – the Capitol Police, the Metropolitan D.C. Police, the National Guard – but the greatest hero from my perspective was Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was recently called before the Judiciary Committee for a deposition. This wasn’t a search for the truth; it was a pretextual trap designed for revenge. He told the Committee: ‘Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.’ That’s what this hearing is all about.”
What: A hearing on the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol
Who: Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former January 6 Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, former Select Committee members, current House members (including Congressman Cohen), and expert witnesses
When: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time – 9 a.m. Central time.
Where: Capitol Visitor Center – HVC-215 (Only accredited media are eligible to attend in person.)
Watch a livestream of the hearing here.
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