How Arizona’s ties to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack are still reverberating today
It’s been four years since the riot at the U.S. Capitol shook the country. It was the first time in history there wasn’t a peaceful transfer of power as the electoral votes were finalized. This week’s presidential certification was notably without the violence and chaos that defined January 6, 2021.
Thousands took part as the Capitol Building was broken into and politicians ducked for cover. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will pardon at least some of those who were convicted for their roles in the insurrection. Among those involved, at least eight Arizonans have been convicted growing out of the Jan. 6 riot, though their roles varied widely. One was Jacob Angeli, known as the “QAnon shaman.”
This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl take a look back at 2021 and how the aftermath of the Capitol attack is still playing out today.
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In this episode, you’ll hear interviews from 2021 with Senator Ruben Gallego and Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko, who were representatives at the time and in the Capitol building that day. They share their firsthand account with The Gaggle.
Then, an interview with reporter Richard Ruelas from 2022 as the investigation into the attack was beginning and Arizona names were coming to light.
Listen to the episode
The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode below.
Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
The Arizona Republic’s yearlong coverage of challenges to 2020 election results won one of journalism’s top honors, the 2022 Scripps Howard Award for distinguished service to the First Amendment. The coverage was capped by the five-part “Democracy in Doubt” series, investigating President Trump’s attempt to overturn the election in Maricopa County.
Listen to the audiobook version by searching “Democracy in Doubt” in your Gaggle feed wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Have a question or comment about Arizona politics?
You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here.
Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto.
Catch up on previous Gaggle episodes here:
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Arizona’s ties to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack are still reverberating today
