The committee investigating Friday’s attack on the US Capitol has subpoenaed former US President Donald Trump, saying the Republican has “orchestrated” a plan to nullify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“We recognize that a subpoena from a former president is an important and historic action”Committee Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney wrote in their letter to Trump.
The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former head of state’s lawyers, demanding their affidavit by Nov. 14.
The committee outlined a request for several documents, including face-to-face conversations between Trump and members of Congress, as well as with extremist groups.
It is not yet clear how the former president and his legal team will respond to the subpoena.
Trump can agree to or negotiate with the commission, announcing that he will challenge or ignore the subpoena.
You can still go to court and try to stop it.
The subpoena is the latest and most significant development in the commission’s 15-month investigation into the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack, which will put panelists in direct confrontation with the lead in the case following testimony from aides and allies. .
The commission writes in the letter that it has gathered “overwhelming evidence” that Trump “personally orchestrated a plan” to reverse his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, including spreading false accusations of widespread voter fraud, “attempted corruption” of the Ministry of Justice. pressure state officials, members of Congress and his own vice president to try to change the results.
However, lawmakers say important details about what Trump was doing during the Capitol invasion remain unknown.
According to the committee, the only person who can fill the gaps is Trump himself.
The panel, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, approved Trump’s subpoena in a surprise vote last week. All members voted in favour.
The Justice Department has indicted more than 850 people in the Capitol Hill attack, some of which have been sentenced to long prison terms. Several leaders and members of the neo-fascist groups Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were charged with sedition.
Trump faces multiple academic and federal investigations into his election actions.
At the committee’s previous public session, the 10th and just weeks before the midterm elections, Trump’s “mood” was examined, Democrat Bennie Thompson said.
The committee begins to summarize its findings that, after losing the 2020 presidential election, Republican Trump tried to prevent Congress from ratifying Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. The result was the invasion of the Capitol by pro-Trump protesters.
The commission can make a decision about making a criminal referral to the Justice Department, although Cheney noted that it was not the panel’s job to make prosecution decisions.
Several of the thousands who stormed Capitol Hill are now running for seats in Congress, some with the support of the former Republican president.
During last week’s hearing, police officers trying to stop the crowd on Jan. 6, 2021, filled the front row of the courtroom.
Source: DN
