Capitol riots: Democratic Senator says select House committee should probe links between insurrection and dark money

The House Select Committee that is in charge of investigating the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol has already begun its work a few weeks back with its first hearing. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has now called for the committee to investigate another layer of the insurrection involving dark money organizations.

Last week, Whitehouse called on the select committee to look into the possible donors and dark money organizations that may have helped finance the January 6 riots at the Capitol. Whitehouse penned a letter to Committee Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson calling on the panel to look into the possible financiers of the insurrection that led to five people dead and dozens of law enforcement officials injured. Some of the police officers that defended the Capitol on that day also testified in the first hearing before the panel.

“The attack on the Capitol on January 6 was the culmination of a months-long disinformation campaign designed to allow President Trump to remain in office,” wrote Whitehouse.

“Public reporting indicates that this campaign was organized and funded by dark money organizations and powerful donors and aided and abetted by members of Congress and the Trump administration,” added the Rhode Island Democrat.

“Many of these same groups were involved in planning and organizing President Trump’s Save America Rally on January 6. These groups obtained permits, provided funding and equipment, and actively recruited participants,” said Whitehouse.

Some of the dark money groups linked to the Capitol riots include Women for America First, America First Policies, and the Rule of Law Defense Fund, which is an arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association. The latter sent out robocalls urging supporters of the disgraced former president to “stop the steal” - a slogan taken from Trump’s false claim of election or voter fraud led to his loss to Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, The Atlanta Journal reports that the home of a couple from Newton County was subject to a raid by federal agents. The couple, Donnie Hyatt and his wife Annemarie Hyatt was suspected of having an association with Chris Hill, the leader of a far-right militia group. The couple was among the thousands of those who attended the rally but were not part of the insurrection that happened hours later.

The agents took away electronic devices, computers, and cellphones, including the tablet of their daughter.