Bennie Thompson says Jan. 6 was the 'culmination of an attempted coup'

Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, delivers opening remarks at Thursday's hearing about the 2021 riot. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, called the attack a "culmination of an attempted coup," in opening remarks at Thursday's hearing about the 2021 riot.

Jan. 6 was a "sprawling multistep conspiracy aimed at overturning the election, aimed at overturning the votes of millions of Americans," Thompson said.