Statement From Demand Justice President Josh Orton on The Fifth Anniversary of January 6th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2026
CONTACT: [email protected]
Washington, DC–Demand Justice President Josh Orton released the following statement in advance of the five year anniversary of January 6, 2021:
“Five years ago tomorrow, the world watched in horror as American democracy came under violent attack.
“January 6 was one of the most infamous days in our nation’s history—but this anniversary isn’t just about the past, and it isn’t only about Donald Trump, the man ultimately responsible for the violence. It’s about the present, and it’s about whether our Democratic leaders have the guts to do what’s right.
“In his second term, Donald Trump’s judicial nominees have refused to tell the truth about what happened on January 6th – and about the 2020 election. What’s happening in the Senate is insane: when asked by a senator about January 6th, one now-confirmed judge, Maria Ann Lanahan, said, ‘I was not present at the U.S. Capitol at the time. I do not have personal knowledge of the details.’
“Trump has made the terms clear: if you want a lifetime judgeship, you must prove to him how far you’re willing to go to profess your loyalty. Trump knows: if you excuse the attack on January 6th, 2021, you’ll let him get away with anything.
“But 18 Democratic senators – Coons, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, King, Klobuchar, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Schiff, Shaheen, Welch, and Whitehouse – have voted to confirm at least one Trump judicial nominee who refused to be honest about January 6 during their confirmation process.
“It’s outrageous and it’s unacceptable.
“For Senate Democrats, there is no political, legal, or historical justification for you to confirm judges who refuse to tell the truth about an attack on American democracy. None.
“On January 6 of all days, there is no excuse for voting for Trump’s judges.”
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