Politics - News Analysis

Jan. 6 Committee Reportedly Has Photo Evidence From Inside the White House

It has to be a little weird to be in a position where you’re photographed all day long, every day. But if anyone should expect that, it’s the President of the United States.

That’s exactly what the job of Shealah Craighead was during the Trump administration — to take pictures of the goings-on at the White House constantly.

Now the Congressional committee in charge of investigating the events of January 6th, 2021 has obtained a previously unreported trove of photos from the National Archives, including pictures taken that day.

It would be sweet, sweet irony if the pictures taken by Craighead, whom Trump is currently bilking out of profits by using her photos in his new book without paying her, were to be used against him in any upcoming hearings (or trials).

Official White House photographer Shealah Craighead waits to photograph then-President Donald Trump. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

Pictures of Trump’s behavior that day could prove pivotal in the Congressional investigation.

According to Politico,

Congressional investigators have obtained a batch of official White House photographs, including images taken on Jan. 6, 2021, according to two sources familiar with the evidence.

The previously unreported cache, which arrived via the National Archives, may provide the committee with real-time visual evidence of former President Donald Trump’s actions and movements as a mob of his supporters battered their way into the Capitol and threatened the transfer of power to Joe Biden.

At least some of the photos were taken by official White House photographer Shealah Craighead, the sources indicated. Committee Chair Bennie Thompson confirmed that the panel had obtained some of Craighead’s photos, though he declined to describe their content.

The panel has not yet spoken to Craighead as an official witness in their investigation. In fact, Craighead herself says that she doesn’t even know which of her photos the committee has obtained.

Trump on January 6th in video stills taken by son Don Jr.

But in their effort to determine exactly what went down with Trump on the day of the Capitol riots, whatever they have gotten could be used against him to show that he was a central part of the rioters’ attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president.

You can read the full Politico report here.

meet the author

Nicole Hickman James is a lifelong Democrat and political activist who first cut her teeth as a teenager volunteering for Mike Dukakis’ presidential campaign. She has worked and volunteered for John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, HFA (Hillary For America), and Organizing For Action. She’s passionate about liberal and progressive causes and considers President Obama her favorite president ever. She holds her Bachelor’s from Boston College in Economics and her Master's from Columbia, also in Economics. When not working as a writer, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her three college-aged children.

Comments

Comments are currently closed.