Trump official declines to call January 6 an ‘attack’, describing ‘protests and such’

Donald Trump ’s nominee to serve as a top independent watchdog at the Department of Justice has refused to call the January 6 insurrection an “attack” during questioning by US senators. Don Berthiaume, a career justice department employee who has been serving as inspector general at the agency, faced senators as part of his confirmation process to take up the role permanently on Wednesday. Berthiaume was praised by some as a veteran of the department and not an overtly loyalist pick to serve in the role. Trump’s justice department has pursued his retribution agenda and faced criticism for a lack of independence from the president. Trump tapped Berthiaume to serve in a temporary acting role as inspector general at the justice department last year, then nominated him for the role permanently this year. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic US senator from Connecticut, asked Berthiaume who won the 2020 election, to which Berthiaume responded, “Joe Biden, as certified by the Senate”. Blumenthal then asked about the 6 January 2021 insurrection, where hundreds entered the US Capitol, some of whom used violence against Capitol police and then were convicted for their roles in the attack. Trump pardoned and commuted sentences for nearly all involved, some of whom are now seeking payouts from the federal government using an obscure legal claims process. “Let me ask you, was the Capitol attacked on January 6?” Blumenthal asked Berthiaume. …