Exclusive reporting on what Trump insiders have told the special
counsel about the former president's conduct on January 6th as
he watched riders storm the Capitol.
Chief Washington Correspondent John Karl has the details.
Good morning, John. Good morning,
George. ABC News has learned new details about what the
people who were with Donald Trump on January 6th have
told federal investigators about his behavior inside the White House
while the Capitol was under attack.
Sources familiar with the investigation say that some of the
most vivid details come from one of Trump's closest advisor
somebody who has worked for him for more than 30
years and remains one of his senior advisors.
Today,
as the nation marks the three-year anniversary of the January
6th attack,
Donald Trump defended his supporters who ransacked the Capitol,
calling for those who have been imprisoned for breaking into
the building to simply be released.
I call them hostages. Some people call them prisoners.
I call them hostages. Release the
J6 hostages, Joe. The Justice Department has charged nearly
1300 people allegedly involved in the attack,
as well as Trump himself after lengthy court battles.
Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigators have spoken to all of
the senior aides who were with Trump at the White
House while the Capitol was under attack,
including trusted a Dan Scavino,
a man who has known Trump since he was a
teenager and worked as his golf caddy inside the White
House.
Scavino ran Trump's Twitter accounts and all social media.
The Great Dan Scavino, most powerful man in politics
Scavino spent much of January 6th at Trump's side.
Sources say Scavino told investigators that Trump sat in the
dining room next to the Oval Office as his supporters
attacked the Capitol,
and then Escavino and other aides pleaded with Trump to
do something to stop the violence.
Trump sat in front of the TV,
unresponsive, his arms folded. Scavino called Trump's demeanor very unsettling.
The sources say Scavino told investigators that Trump was angry,
saying the election had been stolen from him and that
his supporters were,
quote, angry on his behalf.
Much of that anger was directed at Trump's loyal vice
president,
Mike Pence,
and sources say another White House aide,
Nick Luna, told investigators that when he informed Trump that
Pence had to be evacuated to a secure location because
of the threats,
Trump responded. So what?
Our sources tell us. Scavino was also asked directly whether
he ever saw any evidence that there was election fraud
in 2020,
enough to change the election results.
And like so many others close to Trump underoath.
When asked that question, he said no.
He never saw any evidence that the election was stolen.
The Trump campaign has responded to our report by saying,
quote, Dan Scavino is one of President Trump's longest serving,
most loyal allies. And his actual testimony shows just how
strong President Trump is positioned in this case.
Lindsay. All right, Jonathan Karl for us.
Thanks so much, John.