WATCH: Rep. Sewell makes opening statement in hearing to mark 5th anniversary of Jan. 6 attack

From PBS NewsHour.

Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., made an opening statement Tuesday in a hearing marking the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. House Democrats reconvened the former special committee that investigated the attack to hear from witnesses and lawmakers about their experiences from that day and ongoing threats to elections.

Kelly said she remembered Jan. 6 as a day of terror.

“This is the first time that I’ve been able to publicly speak about it, because frankly, I could not believe that in our place of work, in the people’s House, we were threatened that way,” Sewell said. “Jan. 6 was a dark day in our nation’s history, and I hope that we can all work together to ensure that such a heinous attack never, ever, ever happens again.

The House Jan. 6 panel spent 18 months investigating the attack, Trump’s role in the events and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Members interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, some in live public hearings. The committee voted to refer Trump to the Justice Department for prosecution on four federal charges, including aiding an insurrection and conspiracy to defraud the United States, marking the first time Congress referred a former president for criminal charges. The panel disbanded in 2023.

Since starting his second term, Trump has pardoned or commuted sentences for more than 1,500 charged in connection with the attack.

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