The witch hunters on Nancy Pelosi’s hyper-partisan House Select Committee are trying to play it cool as they consider whether or not to force testimony from Former President Donald Trump.
Ultimately they decided against a Trump subpoena after already penetrating his inner circle of family and former associates.
Former President Donald Trump is unlikely to testify before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and committee members say they do not plan on relying on his testimony.
Trump’s testimony is not necessary to add to the growing evidence the committee has collected if it wants to press charges, Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) told reporters on Tuesday. Although Thompson said no final decision has been made, whether lawmakers will call Trump to the stand is one of the final questions they must address in their months-long inquiry.
“We’re not sure that the evidence that we receive can be any more validated with his presence,” Thompson said. “I think the concern is whether or not he would add any more value with his testimony.”
Throughout its 10-month inquiry, the committee has gathered evidence seeking to unravel the events leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the former president’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The committee has ramped up efforts to call lawmakers to testify, issuing subpoenas for five House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), last week.
The committee announced Thursday that McCarthy and Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Scott Perry (R-PA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Mo Brooks (R-AL) were told to appear to discuss their alleged involvement with the Capitol riot after they had initially refused.
The panel has also interviewed Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., as well as his daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband and former Trump aide Jared Kushner, and former Trump adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Despite the testimonies from several of his family members, lawmakers remain skeptical about whether an interview with the former president would result in valuable testimony.
Investigators have reportedly spoken to more than 650 witnesses and issued more than 90 subpoenas targeting Trump aides and those who had a public role in the Jan. 6 attack. It’s not entirely clear when the committee plans to release its findings, but lawmakers have said they aim to release an interim report in June.
Author: Asa McCue
