The January 6 committee gave Americans a lot of information about what happened during the insurrection at the Capitol, which is a rare breach in the carefully managed interview with 60 Minutes by Denver Riggleman.
A former Republican congressman who was ousted by a more conservative opponent in 2020 and now considers himself independent, Riggleman was a technical adviser to the committee, poring through evidence such as text messages and emails obtained from people thought to have knowledge of the attack. His interview provided a behind-the-scene look at the investigation, most of which came from lawmakers comments or public hearings.
Perhaps his most startling admission is his belief that text messages that then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows turned over the committee as a roadmap to an attempted coup. But Riggleman shared other disgrueting details in the interview, such as that a White House number called one of the rioters who stormed the Capitol as it was happening.
Then there were the text messages that Meadows received from Ginni Thomas, the wife of rightwing supreme court justice Clarence Thomas.
The fact that if Clarence agreed with or was aware of his wife's efforts, all three branches of government would be tied to the stop the steal movement, Riggleman said on 60 Minutes.
In recent months, Ginni Thomas'involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results has been well documented, leading to calls for a January 6 committee to compel her testimony efforts, which Riggleman said he supported. Thomas was able to speak to investigators last week, and a deal was reached.