Trump slams Jan. 6 committee, denies he called Pence a "wimp"

Former President Donald Trump on Friday offered his first public comments since the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol began to reveal the extent of his attempts to remain in power. The committee has presented harrowing video footage and searing testimony, including accounts from Trump's close associates and members of his family.

Trump called the hours of testimony — in over three days of hearings so far — "a complete and total lie." He spent much of his speech blasting the committee's efforts as politically motivated, and insisting he'd done nothing wrong.

"It's a complete and total fraud," he said, speaking at a conference in Nashville, held by the Faith and Freedom Coalition. He claimed footage had been selectively edited and downplayed the insurrection as "a simple protest that got out hand."