'If You Have Something to Add Here, Now Would Be the Time': Rep. Says to Former Pence Aides

Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler has urged former White House aides to come forward and reveal anything they may know about former President Donald Trump on the day of the deadly Capitol riot.

Beutler, who represents Washington's 3rd congressional district, issued a statement on Twitter on Friday recalling a conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Trump.

She said McCarthy had informed her of the conversation on January 6 where the former president had blamed antifa for breaching the Capitol and when McCarthy pointed out the rioters were his supporters, Trump reportedly said: "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."

At the end of of her statement, Beutler made a plea to former White House aides, calling on them to reveal what they know about the events of January 6.

"To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time," Beutler said.

Beutler's intervention comes amid the ongoing second impeachment trial in the Senate. House Impeachment Managers - effectively the prosecution - finished their case on Thursday and Trump's defense responded on Friday.

Beutler was one of 10 House Republicans to vote with Democrats in favor of the single article of impeachment. She reiterate her criticism of Trump's actions during the riot on CNN on Friday.

The network reported that Trump dismissed McCarthy's call for him to make a strong statement against the riot at the Capitol in a heated conversation where he also initially blamed antifa.

"You have to look at what he did during the insurrection to confirm where his mind was at," Beutler told CNN. "That line right there demonstrates to me that either he didn't care, which is impeachable, because you cannot allow an attack on your soil, or he wanted it to happen and was OK with it, which makes me so angry."

Some of those who breached the Capitol were reportedly looking for former Vice President Mike Pence and there were shouts of "hang Mike Pence." The then vice president was presiding over the certification of the 2020 Electoral College votes as part of his largely ceremonial role as president of the Senate.

It's not yet clear if witnesses will be called to testify in the impeachment trial. There were no witnesses at Trump's first trial in 2020 as the Republican majority was keen to acquit. However, with Democrats now enjoying the slimmest of majorities in the Senate, they will be able to call witnesses if they choose to.