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June 17, 2026
Trump Nominee Don Berthiaume Refuses to Call January 6 an 'Attack' During Senate Hearing
- Don Berthiaume, nominated by Trump for DOJ inspector general, repeatedly declined to call January 6 an 'attack' during Senate questioning, describing it instead as 'activity' with violence.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized Berthiaume's reluctance to label the events as an attack, questioning his independence for the watchdog role.
- Berthiaume acknowledged the violence but argued that the term 'attack' implies a coordinated effort, which he did not agree with.
2 Sources
- Trump official declines to call January 6 an ‘attack’, describing ‘protests and such’Jun 17, 2026 at 7:09 PM · The Guardian
- Nominee for DOJ watchdog refused to call Jan. 6 violence an ‘attack’ on the Capitol | CNN PoliticsJun 17, 2026 at 9:01 PM · CNN