The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol made it clear today that they plan to conduct an extensive and far-reaching probe of what took place on the fateful day earlier this year that left five people dead and a black mark on the American system of government.
Politico reports the committee is seeking documents and communication records from various federal agencies and also from the White House:
“The committee, chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), plans to seek executive branch records related to the attack and its run-up — including ‘communications within and among the White House and Executive Branch agencies’ on and before Jan. 6.
“The select panel is also seeking records relating to attempts to place politically loyal personnel in positions across the government after the election; the planning, organization and response to Jan. 6 and earlier; and attempts to overturn the rule of law and overturn the 2020 election. One segment of the request notably seeks ‘documents and communications related to the mental stability of Donald Trump or his fitness for office.'”
Additionally, the committee is reaching directly into the Trump inner circle, which could open up members of the former president’s family to federal charges if they played any role in planning or carrying out the Capitol riots:
“The committee asked the National Archives for ‘all documents and communications within the White House’ involving a host of Trump World denizens, including Hope Hicks, former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, Trump adviser Peter Navarro, Kayleigh McEnany, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Melania Trump, all Trump’s adult children except Tiffany Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone.”
There are also mentions among the document request to the Pentagon for any and all “documents and communications concerning possible attempts by President Donald Trump to remain in office after January 20, 2021,” along with specific references to “martial law, the Insurrection Act, and the use of military personnel during last year’s election.”
The Justice Department under Trump will also be closely scrutinized by the select committee:
“The panel requested a wide-ranging tranche of records from DOJ related to Trump’s attempts to force the department to intervene in the election, then-Vice President Mike Pence’s role in presiding over election certification, any discussion of the 25th Amendment and the department’s response to Jan. 6.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tried to shrug off news of the committee and its requests for documentation, telling reporters:
“They are coming for members of Congress, they’re coming for everybody. It’s kind of amazing to me.”
McCarthy spoke with Trump on the day of the insurrection and may also be called to testify before the committee, which could wind up resulting in criminal charges being filed against him and other members of the GOP who allegedly gave tours of the Capitol just days before the riots took place.
