Jan. 6 insurrection ‘came very close,’ to being much worse, Rep. Jeffries says

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• Judy Woodruff:

  With few exceptions, members of the two political parties view January 6 very differently.

  For a Democrat's take now, we are joined by the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. He is Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

  Congressman Jeffries, thank you very much for being with us.

  I believe you heard at least part of what Congressman Nehls was saying.

  But I want to ask you. You were on the floor of the House on January 6. What memory do you take away from that day?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY):

  Well, what took place on January 6 was a violent attack on the Congress, the Capitol and the Constitution.

  And it was, of course, incited by the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, who, for several months prior to January 6, had perpetrated the big lie that he actually won the election and that it was stolen from him. He radicalized millions of people across the country. And some of them showed up on January 6 intent on effectively overthrowing the government and trying to halt the peaceful transfer of power it.

  It's a day like Pearl Harbor and like Bloody Sunday down in Selma, Alabama, and like September 11 that should live in infamy here in America and throughout the world.

• Judy Woodruff:

  As we said, you were there on the floor.

  How close did it come to being even worse than it was? Ultimately, these rioters were not able to get into the House chamber. They did get into the Senate. But, from your perspective, how close did we come?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  We came very close.

  I recall the sergeant at arms interrupting the debate that was under way with respect to the results in Arizona. And he said something that I can remember as vividly as if it was said just today, when he said: "The mob has breached the Capitol. They're on the second floor. They're a few steps outside of the House chamber. Be prepared to hit the floor and secure the gas masks that are underneath your seats."

  I had been in Congress at that point for eight years. Never did I have any real understanding that there were gas masks in the House chambers, let alone would have to utilize them one day.

  And, thankfully, at some point, the Capitol Police found an escape route. And they were able to safely evacuate members of Congress but many of us at that particular time thought we were actually going to have to fight for our lives.

• Judy Woodruff:

  And when we heard Congressman Nehls refer to some people or many people, in his words, being ushered in to the building, did you witness that in any way?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  The Capitol was violated. Folks urinated. They desecrated the citadel of our democracy.

  This fantasy and fiction that, for many people, it was all wine and roses is after-the-fact spin. That's why the bipartisan January 6 Select Committee is so important in uncovering the truth, presenting it to the American people in terms of what happened, why it happened that day, and also coming forward with some recommendations as to how to prevent that type of violent attack and assault on our democracy from ever happening again.

  And, Judy, let me make this one point about the Democratic and Republican members of the select committee, Chairman Bennie Thompson, Vice Chair Liz Cheney. They're doing a great job.

  No member of that committee hates Donald Trump. But they do love democracy. They do love America. We all do. We do love the peaceful transfer of power. And that's why we're committed to uncovering the truth.

• Judy Woodruff:

  And you have spoken about how, in fact, Congresswoman Cheney approached you even as the assault on the Capitol was taking place, spoke to you about how to hold President Trump accountable.

  As you point out, she, Congressman Kinzinger now serving on that committee. They are, though, the very much tiny minority in their party.

  Have any Republicans in the House spoken to you privately, reflecting any views differently from what we're hearing from the Republican leadership in the House?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, the Republican leadership has completely abdicated any responsibility in the context of ensuring that the events around January 6 never happen again and that it shouldn't be looked at through a partisan lens, because that was an American tragedy.

  Now, there are dozens of House Republicans that did, fortunately, vote to certify the election of Joe Biden. And I do have conversations with many of them. They did the right thing that night. And, hopefully, they will continue to try and do the right thing and stand up to the efforts by Donald Trump and his authoritarian co-conspirators to really obliterate American democracy, which would not be good for anyone, not good for Democrats, not good for Republicans, not good for independents, not good for America.

• Judy Woodruff:

  But do you think there are more than the 10 who voted to impeach him later? I mean, are we looking at a situation where there may be more closet Republicans who are prepared to stand up?

  Or is what you see what there is?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, it's my hope that Republicans of goodwill, beyond Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and those who voted to hold Donald Trump accountable for inciting that violent insurrection through their impeachment vote, will stand up and reclaim their party, because, right now, the Republicans are not the party of Ronald Reagan.

  They're not the party of John McCain. They're not the party of Bob Dole, or George H.W. Bush, or George W. Bush. They're not even the party of Mitt Romney. They are the party of Donald Trump and a violent insurrection.

  Take your party back for the good of America.

• Judy Woodruff:

  Congressman, I want to turn to something that has grown out of what happened that day and, of course, the challenge to the election.

  That's the effort by Democrats to get voting rights reform legislation passed up. Until now, no Republicans have — at least in the Senate, have expressed a willingness to do this. But just in the last few days, the — we're hearing from some Republicans that they would — might be willing to look at the way the electoral vote is counted, instead of voting rights reform.

  Is that something that you think could be acceptable?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, it's not an either/or situation. We have to do both. The right to vote is sacred to the integrity of our democracy.

  This principle of one person, one vote, and government of the people, by the people, and for the people is really brought to life by every single American being able to exercise their franchise, choosing who represents them at all levels of government.

  And so we have got to elevate that, because we have a voter suppression epidemic that is taking place all across the country. And the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act are critical in making sure we push back against that.

  At the same time, this principle of the peaceful transfer of power, which is central to American democracy, Republican presidents handing off to Democratic presidents, and vice versa, that was interrupted and almost disrupted permanently on January 6.

  And reforming the Electoral Account Vote Act is an important thing that should be done to tighten up some loose ends that exist right now in that peaceful transfer of power.

• Judy Woodruff:

  Congressman, in the time we have left, it is a political year, midterm elections coming in November. It doesn't look like a good year at this point for Democrats, for historical reasons and others.

  Right now, is there one thing — or what would you like to see President Biden do that could help the Democratic prospects this November?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, President Biden is doing a great job in making sure that we confront the COVID crisis anchored in science and evidence in a decisive fashion.

  And he will continue to lead in that way, at the same time, deal with the economic challenges that we confront, inflation, continue to create millions of good-paying jobs. And then we will have to sell the American people on what we have done.

  And we will be able to do that, particularly when we get the Build Back Better Act over the finish line.

• Judy Woodruff:

  And — but my question is, how confident are you that can happen, given opposition in your own party in the Senate?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, I'm very confident.

  We're not a cult. We're a coalition. And so we have to work with the various components of that coalition, including Senators Manchin and Sinema. I believe President Biden, who knows the Senate better than perhaps any president in modern American history, he will get it done.

• Judy Woodruff:

  Are you prepared to see big changes, though, in the Build Back Better bill as it is, for example, cutting in half the threshold household income amount for the child tax credit?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, the tax cut for children and families through the child tax credit has been transformational for working families, low-income families, and middle-class families.

  And I think we have to continue to keep it robust. But let's have a conversation and see what Senator Manchin comes up with. At the end of the day, we need a product that decisively makes life better for everyday Americans. And if we get that product, it's something I can live with.

• Judy Woodruff:

  So, maybe something below $400,000 household income.

  Just finally, Congressman Jeffries, we know Speaker Pelosi has said she does intend to serve through the remainder of this term. But if she decides not to run for leadership again, are you going to run for your party's top position in the House?

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Well, I have got a job to do as chair of the House Democratic Caucus. And I also have to go back to the voters to try to get my two-year employment contract renewed in 2022.

  So, I'm going to keep the focus on that for the moment.

• Judy Woodruff:

  We will leave it there.

  Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the chair of the Democratic Caucus, thank you very much.

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries:

  Thank you.