January 6 investigation subpoenas Republican leader, 4 others

by Will Tubbs

Lauren Moye, FISM NEWS

 

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was subpoenaed to appear before the House Select Committee along with four other Republican congressmen Thursday. McCarthy responded that he still views the investigation as illegitimate.

According to the committee’s official press release, McCarthy’s communications with President Donald Trump and other White House staff “before, during, and after” the Jan. 6 events are relevant to the investigation. In one of these communications “in the immediate aftermath of the attack” with Trump, McCarthy supposedly heard the president admit “some culpability for the attack.” 

Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) who serves as the chairman of the Select Committee, stated, “Before we hold our hearings next month, we wished to provide members the opportunity to discuss these matters with the committee voluntarily. 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.”

When asked about the subpoena during a press meeting Thursday, McCarthy said he had not yet seen the subpoena. He quipped, “I guess they sent it to you guys before they sent it to me.”

The California congressman added, “My view on the committee has not changed. They are not conducting a legitimate investigation. It seems as though they just want to go after their political opponents.”

In addition to the minority leader, Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Mo Brooks of Alabama have also been subpoenaed. Reasons presented for each differ but include accusations of attempting to “corrupt the Department of Justice” by installing Jeffrey Clark as Attorney General, participating in discussions with former-President Donald Trump regarding the 2020 election results, and encouraging the Jan. 6 protestors.

The Committee previously sent letters to all subpoenaed representatives.

“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,” Thompson added.

All of the subpoenaed Republicans have signaled they will refuse to cooperate with the committee. Several of them also responded that they had not yet received subpoenas. 

Perry called the committee an “illegitimate body” perpetuating a “witch hunt” to deflect from “their abysmal record of running America into the ground.”

Biggs responded with a statement that the committee’s actions were “pure political theater” and accused Democrats of attempting to defame Republicans to distract from their inaction on key voter concerns like inflation and crime:

Brooks, who is currently in a heated campaign against two other Republican contenders for one of Alabama’s Senate seats, accused committee members House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) of attempting to prevent the election of a conservative senator. He stated to Al.com, “Eighteen months have passed since the 2020 election without the partisan Witch Hunt Committee bothering to seek testimony from me.”

Brooks added that he has already provided sworn federal court statements in addition to oral and written statements about Jan. 6. He added, “If the partisan Witch Hunt Committee wants my observations of events, all it has to do is read or listen to my numerous prior statements.”

Republican lawmakers previously warned that any criminal referral resulting from the investigation will be perceived as “politically motivated” and the “continuation of a witch hunt” and “going to backfire.”

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