Front of Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Washington, January 17, 2005 (AFP / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI)

A “crisis cell” led by Donald Trump’s advisers from the luxury Washington Hotel is now at the center of a parliamentary investigation into the January 6 deadly attack on the Capitol.

Attorneys Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, as well as Steve Bannon, a close ally of the former president, gathered at the Willard Intercontinental, very close to the White House, before and after thousands of followers attacked a congressional seat. Trump wanted to prevent elected officials from validating Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.

It is suspected that they, along with other Republican officials, established links between the White House and groups that participated in the massive “Stop the Steal” (“Stop the Flight” election) on January 6. Special Commission of Inquiry of Delegates seeking to prosecute Mr. Bannon for refusing to testify.

The 67-year-old former adviser, one of the architects of Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, is considered essential to understanding what the White House host was doing on the day of the attack.

Members of Parliament suspect Mr Bannon of playing a key role in the campaign to stop the “attack on the capital + stop theft” campaign. Willard Hotel.

– “Lobbyists” –

Since 1847, the magnificent Hotel has welcomed wealthy businessmen, politicians, and dignitaries visiting the American capital or the White House.

The term “lobbyist” also became popular in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump (L) Mike Pence (R) Traverse City, Mitchell. November 2, 2020 (AFP / Brendan Smylovsky)

Prior to Jan. 6, dozens of Donald Trump relatives had also visited the facility in an attempt to sabotage Biden’s election victory, freelance journalist Seth Abramson said.

On his proof website, Abramson cites Conservative political adviser Roger Stone, former spokesman Jason Miller, campaign adviser Boris Epstein and former New York police chief Bernard Kerrick.

The Commission of Inquiry wants to determine their and the former president’s responsibility for the attack.

The Willard Hotel is also cited in the book “Peril” by the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.

According to them, attorney John Eastman would develop an unprecedented legal argument that would allow Vice President Mike Pence to block congressional certification of the fraud-allegations-presidential election results imposed from the Trump camp. Proved.

– “Moment of attack” –

On January 5, Donald Trump announced to his followers that Mr. Pence had agreed to block the vote.

Steve Bannon (Getty Images North America / Stephanie Keith) in New York City on August 20, 2020

But according to the authors of “Peril”, the vice president turned down this option at a meeting the same evening.

After the interview, Trump called at least once the “crisis staff” of the Willard Hotel to coordinate this effort to speak for his vice president, Robert Costa told MSNBC on Monday.

To whom did he speak? What did they say to each other? The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry wants to obtain telephone records of the exchanges related to the events of January 6 and to question others who were at the hotel.

In December, Steve Bannon encouraged Mr Trump to use so-called election fraud to block the January 6 vote, according to Peril.

On the January 5 podcast, he predicted the “success” of this strategy the next day. “Everything is coming together, it’s time to attack,” he said.

Police repulse Donald Trump supporters outside Congress headquarters in Washington on January 6, 2021 (AFP / ROBERTO SCHMIDT)

Willard’s activities were no secret.

In May, John Eastman mentioned on a Denver radio that “the crisis staff at the Willard Hotel (it) coordinated all communications.”

Bob Woodward told MSNBC on Monday that the exchange between the White House and the residents of the Willard Hotel would be crucial to the next day’s attack anyway.

Steve Bannon and Donald Trump “realized now was the time to blow things up, and that’s what they did,” he said.

pmh / cyj / led / ybl