The House committee investigating the Capitol riot has issued six additional subpoenas to individuals in the orbit of former President Donald Trump, as it continues to seek information about the lead-up to the savage assault on the Capitol by Trump’s supporters in January. The newly subpoenaed individuals include Bryan Lewis, Ed Martin, Kimberly Fletcher, Robert “Bobby” Peede, Jr., Max Miller, and Brian Jack, and the committee outlined all of their connections to the issues at hand in a press release.
Save the date: The Jan. 6 select committee will meet on Dec. 13 at 7:00PM ET to consider a report recommending that the House cite Mark Meadows for criminal contempt of Congress and refer him to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 10, 2021
Among other examples, Miller — a former Trump administration official and current Republican Congressional candidate in Ohio — met (alongside Peede) with Trump “in his private dining room off the Oval Office on January 4th, 2021 to discuss the January 6th Ellipse rally and the speakers at the rally,” per that committee press release. Jack, another ex-official in the Trump administration, apparently got in touch in Trump’s name with multiple members of Congress “to ask them to speak at the Ellipse on January 6th,” that same press release explains.
NBC's Pete Williams: The D.C. Appeals Court says the Jan. 6 Committee has a valid legislative purpose and that its inquiry concerns a subject that could lead to legislation.
That undercuts a claim made by Mark Meadows and others who've resisted committee subpoenas. @NBCNews
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 10, 2021
Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) commented as follows:
‘The Select Committee is seeking information from individuals who were involved in or witnesses to the coordination and planning of the events leading up to the violent attack on our democracy on January 6th. Some of the witnesses we subpoenaed today apparently worked to stage the rallies on January 5th and 6th, and some appeared to have had direct communication with the former President regarding the rally at the Ellipse directly preceding the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Select Committee expects these witnesses to join the hundreds of individuals who have already cooperated with our investigation as we work to provide the American people with answers about what happened on January 6th and ensure nothing like that day ever happens again.’
The Select Committee expects these witnesses to join the hundreds who have already cooperated with our investigation as we work to provide the American people with answers about what happened on January 6th and ensure nothing like that day happens again.https://t.co/3swZbNRlzM
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) December 10, 2021
Read more at this link. Interestingly, Miller said on Twitter that he would “accept service of this subpoena” — although there’s a significant difference between that step and actually complying with the subpoena’s demands, and he added that, if elected to Congress, he intends to “make sure one of my first votes is to disband this partisan committee that has weaponized its powers against innocent Americans.” Miller — and others who have opted for at least a semblance of compliance — might be concerned about the possibility of being held in contempt of Congress and referred to the Justice Department for prosecution if they defy a subpoena. The riot investigation committee is planning to approve a finding of contempt of Congress targeting ex-Trump administration official Mark Meadows on Monday, after which point the full House will need to approve the measure. Final decisions on prosecution then rest with the Justice Department.
Upon taking office, I will make sure one of my first votes is to disband this partisan committee that has weaponized its powers against innocent Americans. Ohioans are tired of watching D.C.’s witch hunts and political theater while the country burns.
1/2— Max Miller (@MaxMillerOH) December 9, 2021
