Thanks to some excellent reporting from CNN, we learned Friday that the House Select Committee on the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol now has evidence that failed, one-term former President Donald Trump spoke to his longtime congressional acolyte, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), for 10 minutes on the morning of the attack.
The House select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection is now in possession of White House records that provide new details about a phone call Donald Trump made to Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on January 6, 2021 — as the investigation drills down on the former President’s communications that day and questions have long swirled around calls between him and lawmakers.
Two sources who have reviewed the call records tell CNN that Trump spoke on the phone at the White House residence with Jordan for 10 minutes on the morning of January 6. That afternoon, Jordan took to the House floor to object to the certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College win, and pro-Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol.
Jordan has so far refused to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee, and it remains unclear if he will be subpoenaed for his testimony.
But according to former federal prosecutor Harry Litman, the call itself could wind up being a key to sinking both the Ohio Republican and ex-president.
Appearing on CNN, Litman was asked by host Amara Walker:
“We know that Congressman Jim Jordan spoke with President Trump for ten minutes. That afternoon he went to object to the certification of Biden’s Electoral College win. Do you think a subpoena will be enough for Jordan to speak to the committee and reveal what was said on that call?”
Litman replied:
“Short answer is no. And by the way, you’re right. just for the listeners, the records the committee have just say how long the call was, they don’t have the context. The people who could give that? Jim Jordan and Donald Trump but they both can have confidence that there will be a conspiracy of silence.”
Litman then added:
“But it’s significant. Because he’s been all over the lot and very squirrely about it with one exception. He said categorically, ‘I never talked to him in the morning.’ So this puts the lie to it. As you say that really matters because it is in advance of the whole riot and rally that Trump undertook.
“So it is a big piece of evidence. A prosecutor’s head would be going off like crazy given all the squirreliness like before, but I don’t think a subpoena will work against Jordan unless and until they go to court for it.”
All of the pieces are falling into place that will eventually provide the roadmap necessary to charge Trump and his co-conspirators for their role in the Capitol insurrection. And keep in mind that the committee has seen evidence we haven’t. That information will be handed over to the Justice Department along with a criminal referral specifying what crimes the committee believes were committed by Jordan and others.
Hang in there. It’s all about to be laid in front of the American people when the committee’s public hearings begin in March.
