Mccarthy, GOP lawmakers escalate standoff with panel
House minority leader says he will likely defy Jan. 6 team’s subpoena
WASHINGTON – House Minority Leader Kevin Mccarthy is making it clear that he will likely defy a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, escalating a standoff with the panel over his and other GOP lawmakers’ testimony.
In an 11-page letter to the panel Friday, an attorney for Mccarthy, a Republican from California, argued the select committee does not have the authority to issue subpoenas to the lawmakers under House rules and demanded answers to a series of questions and documents if his client were to comply.
Attorney Elliot Berke requested a list of “topics that the Select Committee would like to discuss with the Leader, and the constitutional and legal rationale justifying the request.”
“I expressly reserve Leader Mccarthy’s right to assert any other applicable privilege or objection to the Select Committee’s subpoena,” Berke wrote.
Committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey said Friday night, “Leader Mccarthy and other Members who have been served subpoenas are hiding behind debunked arguments and baseless requests for special treatment.”
He added, “The refusal of these Members to cooperate is a continued assault on the rule of law and sets a dangerous new precedent that could
hamper the House’s ability to conduct oversight in the future.” Mulvey said committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-mississippi, “will formally respond to these Members in the days ahead.”
Mccarthy has acknowledged he spoke with Trump on Jan. 6 as some of Trump’s supporters were outside the Capitol and forcing their way into the building. But he has not shared many details.
The subpoenas were issued to Mccarthy, Jordan, and Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama in mid-may. The panel has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and collected more than 100,000 documents as it investigates the incident.
“I have no relevant information that would advance any legitimate legislative purpose,” Jordan said in a letter detailing his reasons for not cooperating. The others indicated after the subpoenas were issued that they too would not cooperate.