Former Oath Keepers spokesperson to Jan. 6 committee: 'This could have been the spark that started a new civil war'

Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesperson for the far-right militia group Oath Keepers, appeared before the Jan. 6 House select committee on Tuesday. "What it was going to be was an armed revolution," Van Tatenhove testified. "I think we've gotten exceedingly lucky that more bloodshed did not happen."

Video Transcript

JASON VAN TATENHOVE: I think we need to quit mincing words and just talk about truths. And what it was going to be was an armed revolution. I mean, people died that day. Law enforcement officers died this day. There was a gallows set up in front of the Capitol. This could have been the spark that started a new civil war. And no one would have won there. That would have been good for no one.

I do-- I think we've gotten exceedingly lucky that more bloodshed did not happen because the potential has been there from the start. And we got very lucky that the loss of life was, and as tragic as it is, that we saw on January 6, the potential was so much more. Again, all we have to look at is the iconic images of that day with the gallows set up for Mike Pence, for the Vice President of the United States.

And I do fear for this next election cycle because who knows what that might bring if a president that's willing to try to instill and encourage to whip up a civil war amongst his followers using lies, and deceit, and snake oil. And regardless of the human impact, what else is he going to do if he gets elected again? All bets are off at that point.

And that's a scary notion. I have three daughters. I have a granddaughter. And I fear for the world that they will inherit if we do not start holding these people to account.