getting answers live on abc seven. this is where we ask experts questions to get you answers in real time. the san francisco district attorney has been recalled. a reporter with our media partner will doing this explore those questions. in just two hours, the long-awaited public hearings on the january 6 capitol insurrection will be capitalized

-- televised nationally. they are promising never before seen video and never before heard testimony. we will tell you what to expect and what the political impact might be. the building aware american laws are made. the ultimate symbol of our democracy. the congressman's joins us live now from washington dc. thank you for joining us. >> my pleasure. kristen: for americans on the fence as to whether to spend their evening watching a congressional hearing, how important is it? >> this is about american democracy. this is a very historic. we are living through. it is important for americans to

know the truth and to be open-minded. to really study what is happening. the least we should do is pay attention to this very important hearing. kristen: people have short memories, but you remember. you were in the building. walk us through the events as they unfolded that day. >> i flew back. my doctors do not want me to because i had recovered from a serious accident and i have blood cancer. so my immune system was compromised. but i came back to vote for speaker of the house of representatives. because of my health condition, i was in a room right off the house floor with a view of the capitol mall.

i could see on the television what the president was saying. ulsee alenyou are seeing a viewe picture i cod e whayg to capololice th is meooking oue when they bthem in the room i wa in. turns out was the last member of congress out of the capitol building. capitol police chief came back to get me. i will never forget it. i have such respect for the people who made this countrywhas the final act of certifying a fair, free national election for president of the united states. it gives me chills to look at

those failures -- photographs. what impact has living through that attack had on you? it has been startling. >> the day it happened wehidingt room because the capitol police told us to let the windows and hide. i could not believe it was happening. i still cannot believe the united states of america, americans and a former president would incite americans to do what they did, claiming the election was stolen, even though multiple courts have found no evidence of that. to still be in the situation, is quite amazing to me. as an american who reveres this building. kristen: i gearing a half after

the insurrection, democratic voters unanimously almost believe the attacks were thought to democracy, but republican voters are split. less than half say the riot was a threat. more than half say those involved were protecting democracy. looking at that, what minds can still be influenced, what good can come from the facts being presented or shown tonight if you see a quarter of the people reject ask? -- facts? >> the truth will set you free. we have to be factual. i am grateful for the republicans on the committee that showed tremendous courage. these are conservatives. members who do not agree with a lot of my belief system as a progressive liberal, but i

respect them both very much. people have to rely on the facts and be open-minded, all of us. that is what democracy is all about. if you cannot trust these institutions and respect one another who have difference of opinions? the reason we have this building is to not have violence. i do not condone violence on any party. if you disagree with the love, you work through the process, but there was no equal statement to me between those incidents. this was an attack on the u.s. capitol the day we were certifying an election that is required by the constitution. kristen: i want to ask you, you have not held back in blaming former president trump for inciting the deadly riot.

do you think these hearings will draw a straight line to his role and lead to prosecution? >> i do not know, but has beenld not understand the constitution and he did not believe that those rules apply to him. he constantly broke them in my view. this was the ultimate in of rules. all of us swear allegiance to as defined in the constitution. tolrdy is a straight line. i will be open-minded if i am proven wrong. i think it is pretty clear that he orchestrated this. he incited those people to go down and do what they did. kristen: congressman, i want to discuss happier issues. you got a bill passed relating to the graduate who needs like

stephen treatment -- life-saving treatment, but was under constant threat of deportation under the previous administration. >> that is one of the great things about this job. you meet remarkable people you never would. isabel was invited to this country to be in a pilot at the hospital. it has saved her life. she was invited to the united states. she came here legally and the trump administration tried to throw her out. we are hoping to get it through the senate. kristen: don't forget our favorite park ranger. >> she is a wonderful friend and

she is such a wonderful spirit. what a gift to our community in the bay and to this country. i am always delighted to spend time talking about betty. kristen: congressman, thank you so much for your time today. >> i appreciate it. thanks for having me on. kristen: the hearing will be broadcast here at 5:00. we

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committee investigating the january 6 insurrection will hold its first public session and we will have special live coverage here. the committee as a staff of more than 40 investigators, a bipartisan group of democrats and republicans. they conducted over 1000 interviews, including with about an trump and jared kushner. we are joined with rick klein. i walk us through the process. >> tonight is the opening argument. we are expecting close to duping hours -- two hours, excerpts from testimony, some live testimony from a documentary

filmmaker who was there and a police officer. they hope it connects some doubts for people. memories fade and by bringing new footage, the hope of the committee is to start up with a strong statement that reminds people of the horror of that date. kristen: do you expect the smoking gun? >> my expectation is not that there is some big thing that connects former president trump to all of this. we are blurred in our minds about how much evidence is already known. i do not expect much more will come up that.

i think there will be new information either tonight or in the subsequent hearings that shows this was not the random one off event. that this took weeks of planning. it was an orchestrated event. to try to overcome the election. that i think is what we are looking at. whether at the end of this we will be able to say this is the moment that former president trump started it all, i am skeptical of that. kristen: do you expect any of trump family members will incriminate the former president? >> i do not think will incriminate the former president directly, but certainly people around him. they did not have any great love for some of the people who were

surrendering their father or father-in-law. maybe they have a pretty searing indictment of the people around them. that i think is more of what we are talking about. i do not expect if i could will throw donald trump under the bus. there are a lot of members of congress that were asked to participate. kristen: some republican leaders initially condemned the riot and even criticized donald trump's role. they have all backed away from that position and are calling this political theater. >> i think it is possible to save the committee has become more political than it should have been and not back away from the original critiques, although they have gone further than that. you heard our colleague preston

kevin mccarthy if they election wast. kevin cahy w que thon ftiesrame. works nas no out with republicans. kristen: the midterms are coming up. how could these hearings influence the midterms? we are talking about a time when the democrats are facing a lot of headwind right now with inflation, gas prices, covid. >> there are not many people

that think this will be a big game changer. people will vote around issues regarding gas prices and inflation. i do think democrats only hope is claiming this these hearingso that, this is who is in power before. this is why it is important for you to vote. i do not think we will see anything that will change the political trajectory of the democrats. but i do think it helps the democrats remind people of how awful that day was. how people in power were encouraging the horrible events. kristen: tonight is the opening act. there will be several more hearings. at the end, what are the

potential outcomes? >> there are a couple of different tracks. there will be a final report that will make some findings on behalf of the committee that will be there for the history books. they will likely include recommendations, including regarding the electoral college system. and ultimately referral to the department of justice. things will had two other avenues as soon as things are wrapped up. kristen: speaking of the justice department there have been criticisms of merrick garland and his pace at the moving in terms of the investigation. where is that at? >> he is in a tough spot.

there is no one who would be satisfied with the pace in either direction. he has described it as working up the food chain. the work of this committee likely ends with this because they are likely to lose control of the house. i think merrick garland has not allowed himself to be influenced by any of the political calendars. kristen: we have about 30 seconds. are these hearings designed to ensure republicans do not nominate the former president in 2024? if the answer is yes, might there be some republicans who

may delay in these hearings while publicly decrying them? >> i think it might be one offshoot of the hearings oh d d. i think there are some like chris christie who are glad to see this going on. but i do not think there is anything directly. it will remind people of how terrible that day was in american history. kristen: rick klein, thank you so much. it was great talking with you. you can watch a on the capitol here on abc 7 or wherever you stream. coming up next, we know san francisco voters recalled san francisco district attorney chesa boud kristen: we are diggir

into city politics through our

partnership with the san francisco standard. part of it is highlighting those who work to have the same mission of improving the quality of life for everyone. with the successful passage of proposition h, the effort to , we are taking a closer look at the demographics. joining us now to talk about the results is the standard reporter. thank you for coming on the show. the overall recall numbers seem to be around 60% for the recall. that is the big picture. break it down for us as we zoom in. which groups were most likely to support the recall? >> it is a significant majority

to recall him. a lot of neighborhoods have very high support. some of the more progressive neighborhoods like the mission, those areas are considered more progressive. they are more progressive in the election history. those areas have more opposition to the recall than the support. kristen: what does that suggest? what are some of the factors driving those particular groups to support the recall in greater numbers or support the district attorney? >> according to our pulling numbers, asian americans is that group showed the strongest support to the recall. asian americans are feeling less safe in the city.

the past two years and we see a lot of viral videos of asian americans becoming victims of violence. there is community frustration and anger. the recall might be presented as an option to the community. they take it as a way to express their anger and frustration. kristen: what about the neighborhoods that are white and wealthy? how did they vote on this? >> the marina district have one of the highest support in percentage of the recall. kristen: based on these results

how might the mayor go about selecting the interim d.a.? >> we do not know who she will pick. we still have may be months. the mayor -- the district attorney will leave the office within 10 days of that. we still have a month. there are several candidates being rumored to be the potential candidate. we do not have that information yet. kristen: i want to ask you, there was over a low turnout. some racial groups turnout and were energized to vote? >> the asian-american community

here have the motivation to participate in our political process here. in this recall race, the turnout is about 45%, which is average in the midterm election year. if you remember the february school board recall, that turnout rate was about 36%. that is considered lower because it is a special election in february. critics might say it is a political power grab. that is why people are thinking the recall may be a less democratic way of engaging in politics. kristen: thank you so much for breaking that down for us. >>

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joining us on this interactive show, getting answers. world news tonight is tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. a deadly workplace shooting. the images coming in now. also developing just a short time from now, the results of the january 6th investigation presented to the american people. the first prime time hearing 8: and tonight right here, what we're learning already. the investigation nearly one year in the making, set to reveal never before seen video, testimony, and evidence to the country. >> i am not allowed to say what's going to happen today. because everyone's just going to have to watch. >> tonight, the capitol officer attacked. the filmmaker with new images and video documenting the proud boys, the filmmaker suddenly finding themselves in the middle

of it all that day. and what he tells abc news about the violence. and tonight here, the videotaped