Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Mccarthy, four other conservative House members
WASHINGTON —
The House committee scrutinizing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed House Minority Leader Kevin Mccarthy,
R-calif., and four other prominent conservative representatives after they refused to voluntarily comply with its requests for information.
In an all but unprecedented move to subpoena sitting members of Congress, the committee, which is expected to begin public hearings next month, is seeking to compel the testimony of Mccarthy and Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama. All four, who are some of former President Donald Trump’s biggest backers in Congress, had been asked in letters to speak with the committee and refused.
“Unfortunately, you declined voluntary cooperation, and we are left with no choice but to issue you this subpoena,” state the letters to the representatives informing them of the subpoenas.
The committee has debated privately for months about whether to subpoena representatives who refuse to cooperate and whether it wanted to set such a precedent — particularly given time constraints, the chance of a lengthy legal battle and the strong chance that Republicans could regain control of the House after the midterm elections.
Several of the representatives were involved in meetings and planning sessions around Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
“These members include those who participated in meetings at the White House, those who had direct conversations with President Trump leading up to and during the attack on the Capitol, and those who were involved in the planning and coordination of certain activities on and before January 6th,” the news release announcing the subpoenas states.
Hearings are scheduled to begin June 9 and are expected to last several weeks. The committee has completed more than 1,000 interviews.
“Before we hold our hearings next month, we wished to provide members the opportunity to discuss these matters with the committee voluntarily,” committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, D-miss., said in a statement. “Regrettably, the individuals receiving subpoenas today have refused and we’re forced to take this step to help ensure the committee uncovers facts concerning January 6th. We urge our colleagues to comply with the law, do their patriotic duty, and cooperate with our investigation as hundreds of other witnesses have done.”
The committee wants to speak with Mccarthy about his communication with Trump before, during and after the attack, according to its letter to him.
Mccarthy told reporters Thursday that he had not seen the subpoena. He did not respond when asked if he intended to comply.
“My view on the committee has not changed. They’re not conducting a legitimate investigation,” he said.
“It seems as though they just want to go after their political opponents.”
Several people have fought in court to block the committee’s subpoenas for depositions or records by arguing that the committee was not properly formed and is not valid because the two Republicans serving on the committee were not named by Mccarthy. Earlier this month, a federal judge issued the first ruling in one of those cases and found that committee’s creation and makeup are valid and that it has a legitimate legislative purpose. That case has been appealed.
The committee letter to Perry said his testimony is needed because he
“was directly involved with efforts to corrupt the Department of
Justice and install Jeffrey Clark as acting Attorney General.” Perry leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
A spokesman for Perry would not say whether the congressman would comply with the subpoena.
In a statement Perry said: “That this illegitimate body leaked their latest charade to the media ahead of contacting targeted members is proof positive once again that this political witch hunt is about fabricating headlines and distracting Americans from their abysmal record of running America into the ground.”
Spokespeople for the three other representatives did not immediately return a request for comment.