Poll shows impact of Jan. 6 survey on US public opinion — RT World News

More than a year of investigation by a congressional committee and nine televised hearings – expertly curated by a former ABC News executive – have had virtually no impact on public opinion about the riot in US Capitol on January 6, revealed a new poll.

The Monmouth University poll, released on Tuesday, showed the Democratic-led House committee failed in its effort to convince voters that former President Donald Trump was responsible for the Capitol breach. About 38% of Americans think Trump was « directly responsible » up from 42% before the TV hearings, according to the survey.

« Sensational revelations during the hearings do not appear to have moved public opinion on Trump’s culpability for the riot or his false allegations of voter fraud, » said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Many observers did not buy Murray’s argument that the hearings gave « sensational revelations. » Only 23% of Americans have paid « a lot of attention » to audiences, unchanged from before they aired, the poll showed. Opinions were also static on whether President Joe Biden won the 2020 election due to voter fraud (29%, unchanged from before the hearings) and whether the Capitol breach was a riot (64%, against 65%).

Around 52% of respondents said the incident could be correctly described as a « insurrection, » compared to 50% before the hearings, while 35% said it was a « legitimate protest » against 34%. Only 8% said audiences changed their views, compared to 6%.

About 40% of Americans, including more than 80% of Republicans, have a favorable view of Trump, virtually unchanged from November 2020 levels, the poll found. At the other end of the spectrum, 41% of Americans believe Trump should be charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot, while 35% believe such a prosecution would destabilize the American political system.

“When we released our June poll, I said the committee was preaching to the choir,” said Murray. « These current results suggest that they have not recruited new singers since then. »

The poll found that 42% of Americans think the American political system is « fundamentally sound », compared to 55% in February 2020.

The House committee hired former ABC News executive James Goldston to help organize its hearings for prime-time television audiences. Democrats framed the riot as a racially motivated insurgency and accused Trump of inciting voter fraud protesters to block the peaceful transfer of power. Critics, such as Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania), called the Soviet-style hearings « show trial ».