Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Donald Trump

Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Donald Trump

The select committee subpoenaed the former president on Friday, a historic — if largely symbolic — step that is unlikely to compel Trump’s testimony before the panel dissolves at the end of the year.

The Jan. 6 select committee subpoenaed former President Donald Trump on Friday, a historic — if largely symbolic — step that is unlikely to compel Trump’s testimony before the panel dissolves at the end of the year.

The panel’s chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, issued the subpoena eight days after the panel unanimously authorized the Mississippi Democrat to demand the former president’s testimony. It’s just the second time in modern U.S. history that Congress has taken such a step.



The committee is demanding his testimony and documents related to evidence that it says proves Trump played a “central role” in attempting to subvert the 2020 election, triggered the violent mob attack on the Capitol that followed and exacerbated it while police attempted to regain control. The subpoena gives Trump until Nov. 4 to produce documents and sets Nov. 14 as a deposition date.

An attorney for the former president said they would review the subpoena.

“We understand that, once again, flouting norms and appropriate and customary process, the Committee has publicly released a copy of its subpoena,“ said David Warrington, a partner at the Dhillon Law Group, which Trump hired to engage with the select panel on the subpoena. “As with any similar matter, we will review and analyze it, and will respond as appropriate to this unprecedented action.“

The select panel has previously released copies of subpoenas during its contempt of Congress proceedings, and other copies of the subpoenas have come out during litigation with witnesses.



“The evidence demonstrates that you knew this activity was illegal and unconstitutional, Thompson and vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) wrote in a letter accompanying the subpoena, “and also knew that your assertions of fraud were false.”

Investigators asked for all of Trump’s Jan. 6 communications records through the encrypted app Signal or other means, including contacts with members of Congress from mid-December 2020 until Jan. 6, 2021.

The subpoena demanded documents related to any plans to influence state and local legislators and officials to delay or change the certification of the presidential election or for alternate slates of electors pledged to Trump in states won by Biden. The efforts to appoint the alternate slates of electors have become a focus of a parallel investigation by the Justice Department.

Investigators singled out records related to members of Congress, particularly Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), who’d become a part of both the select panel’s investigation and DOJ’s inquiry for his connections to Trump’s efforts to overturn the election. Perry had pushed for DOJ official Jeffrey Clark, who was seen as more sympathetic to investigations of election fraud, to be elevated within the department.

The committee is also looking for any evidence of potential obstruction of its own investigation, asking specifically for records of Trump’s contacts with witnesses, their attorneys and with a former deputy White House chief of staff, Tony Ornato, whose own testimony about Jan. 6 has been challenged by the panel. The committee also wants any records of Trump “directly or indirectly” paying for some witnesses’ legal fees and “finding, offering or discussing employment for any such witnesses.”

The committee has secured voluntary interviews with hundreds of witnesses and received testimony and documents from dozens more under subpoena, in the course of its yearlong investigation. The panel has also subpoenaed phone records from hundreds of witnesses.

More than two dozen witnesses sued to block the select committee’s efforts to obtain testimony or phone records, and some of that litigation has lingered for nearly a year. Congress has never successfully enforced a subpoena against a former president, and the litigation around this could drag out the process.

The Dhillon Law Group has already represented multiple witnesses who have gone before the panel including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump ally Seb Gorka and Women for America First co-founder Amy Kremer.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
Thirteen Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
High-Profile Incidents and Political Developments Dominate Global News
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Ukraine and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Exchange of the War
×