What to look for in the Jan.6 public hearings

Jan. 6 hearings hit primetime TV this week : NPR 

The general public is about to get an ear and an eye full. Bits and pieces have dribbled out ever since the Jan 6 committee was constituted.  So far, what the public has heard is that there were many trying various ways to keep Trump in power, some of which may have been criminal and some just dirty tricks and some violated the  spirit and intent of the Constitution,  

1.  Was there an effort to intentionally overturn election results to keep Trump in the White House? 

  2.  If so,  what  were they and who led these efforts.

   3. What was wrong about the goal and efforts and what failed and what damage do they do?

 4;/. What role did Trump play? 

          Did he give orders, gave a wink and a nod, or did he not know what was done. or was about to be done?  The old Watergate drill is valid here:  What did he know, when did he know it..and how, and what did he do about it.  

Much has been made of Trump's style of operation which resembles a mafia boss.  If so, if he is a good mob boss, he will let his lieutenants take the fall for the idea, formulate the plan, and the execution of the plan. He has a record of acting like this.  Michael Cohen said he never gave a direct order, but instead gave an indication of what he would like done, but left it up to those loyal to him to figure it out and then do it.  Trump expected his minions to take the fall and stay loyal if they got caught, with hints of promises he would reward loyalists with pardons..  Ask Cohen how that worked when Cohen did not comply in the Stormy Daniels matter/  Ask ask Manfort who pleaded guilty, suffered a bit, and then was pardoned in the Russian campaign interference issue..  There are many more who fit the Manafort model than the Cohen ones.  Nixon was caught red-handed with the famous tapes, but will Trump, who did not use technology that would trip him up or come to haunt him?  There may not be the "smoking gun" but the stench of those around him testifying what they heard and saw may be enough to shape public opinion and destroy any of his future political ambitions...or not.

Stormy Daniels who's who: Cast of characters in Michael Cohen scandal (usatoday.com)

Trump Pardons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort And Charles Kushner : NPR

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          What did he know; when did he know it and what did he do about it?