WASHINGTON, USA – Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) has requested that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy voluntarily provide information to the Select Committee; and in a separate announcement issued subpoenas to three individuals as a part of its investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and its causes.
The committee is demanding records and testimony from three witnesses involved in planning and preparations for the January 6 rally at the Ellipse, which immediately preceded the violent attack on the Capitol.
The Select Committee issued subpoenas for records and testimony to the following individuals:
Andy Surabian and Arthur Schwartz were strategists who both served as advisors to Donald Trump, Jr. and were communicating with individuals including Donald Trump, Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle regarding the January 6 Ellipse rally.
Ross Worthington is a former White House official who helped draft the former President’s January 6th speech for the rally at the Ellipse.
The letters to the witnesses can be found here:
Chairman Thompson statement reads:
“The Select Committee is seeking information from individuals who were involved with the rally at the Ellipse. Protests on that day escalated into an attack on our democracy. Protestors became rioters who carried out a violent attempt to derail the peaceful transfer of power. We have reason to believe the individuals we’ve subpoenaed today have relevant information and we expect them to join the more than 340 individuals who have spoken with the Select Committee as we push ahead to investigate this attack on our democracy and ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Meanwhile, In a letter, chairman Thompson underscored the Minority Leader’s public statements and other reporting demonstrating that Rep. McCarthy has information relevant to the Select Committee’s investigation into the facts, circumstances, and causes of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The Select Committee is seeking information from Rep. McCarthy about the violence of January 6, as well as events in the days before and after.
Representative McCarthy was reportedly in communication with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the days prior to January 6.
Chairman Thompson wrote in his letter: “We also must learn about how the president’s plans for January 6th came together, and all the other ways he attempted to alter the results of the election. For example, in advance of January 6, you reportedly explained to Mark Meadows and the former president that objections to the certification of the electoral votes on January 6 ‘was doomed to fail.’”
Chairman Thompson underscored various public accounts detailing Rep. McCarthy’s communication with the former president in which Rep. McCarthy reportedly encouraged the former president to take action to stop the January 6 riot. “You have acknowledged speaking directly with the former president while the violence was underway on January 6,” wrote chairman Thompson.
In addition, chairman Thompson sought information about reports that, according to Rep. McCarthy, the former president acknowledged his own culpability for the violence of January 6
Chairman Thompson wrote: “Further, you shared an account of your communications with President Trump with a local news outlet in your district, which reported that you had a ‘very heated conversation’ with the president as the riot was taking place, and urged the president to ‘get help’ to the Capitol. Many similar reports appear on and after January 6 from a number of other news organizations. And, in addition to all of those published accounts—which each appear consistent with your public statements at the time—Politico reported that you shared an even greater degree of detail with your colleagues in a widely attended conference call on January 11. On that call, according to the report, you stated that President Trump had admitted ‘some degree of responsibility’ for January 6th in his one-on-one conversations with you.”
The Select Committee is also seeking information related to Rep. McCarthy’s actions after the January 6 riot.
Chairman Thompson wrote: “The Select Committee is aware that, notwithstanding the unacceptable violence that day, you nevertheless agreed to support continued objections to the electoral votes from multiple states late in the evening of January 6 and into the morning of January 7. The Select Committee wishes to question you regarding communications you may have had with president Trump, president Trump’s legal team, Representative Jordan, and others at the time on that topic.”
The Select Committee’s investigation has also identified Rep. McCarthy as potentially having information about the former president’s state of mind and decisions inside the White House in the aftermath of January 6.
Chairman Thompson wrote: “It appears that you had one or more conversations with the President during this period, including a conversation on or about January 11 …. It appears that you may also have discussed with president Trump the potential he would face a censure resolution, impeachment, or removal under the 25th Amendment. It also appears that you may have identified other possible options, including president Trump’s immediate resignation from office.”
Additionally, the Select Committee is gathering information related to concerns about potential violence in the aftermath of January 6 as a result of the continued amplification of unsupported claims about the 2020 election. Chairman Thompson noted that Rep. McCarthy “shared this concern about the president’s ‘stolen election’ claims with [his] local news organization: ‘It’s raising the ability for greater violence and we’ve got to stop that and come together as one nation.’” Chairman Thompson also noted that, according to the committee’s findings, Rep. McCarthy “received FBI briefings regarding potential violence immediately following January 6.”
Chairman Thompson’s complete letter to Minority Leader McCarthy can be found here.
