Jan. 6 Committee Doesn't Expect to Interview Trump in Investigation into Insurrection and Capitol Attack

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyThe panel of lawmakers investigating theattack on the U.S. Capitolon Jan. 6, 2021, have interviewed more than 1,000 people. Now, it appears,Donald Trump, whose supporters disrupted the electoral vote count to try and overturn the 2020 election results in his favor, won’t be added to the list.Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee conducting the investigation, said it is “not our expectations to do that,” referring to calling the former president as a witness.“We’re not sure that the evidence that we receive can be any more validated with his presence,” Thompson told reporters Tuesday,according to Politico. “I think the concern is whether or not he would add any more value with his testimony.“While Thompson reportedly indicated that a final decision has not been made about requesting Trump’s testimony, he said the topic is “not in the day-to-day wheelhouse of our discussions.“The committee has conducted interviews with members ofTrump’s inner circle, including his daughterIvanka Trumpand her husbandJared Kushner, who both served as top aides in the White House.Thompson said the Trump’s daughterhelped the panel"fill in a lot of the gaps” about her father’s role in the insurrection when she testified in April.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty ImagesOn Thursday, the panelsubpoenaed five House Republicans— including Minority LeaderKevin McCarthy— to compel the lawmakers to give testimony as they attempt to unravel the plan to keep Trump in power despite President Joe Biden’s electoral win.Since leaving the White House, Trump has continued making unfounded claims of victory in the 2020 presidential election, though Biden won both the electoral and popular votes and has been in office for almost 500 days.Despite Trump’s baseless allegations of wrongdoing, officials in nearly every state, including both Democrats and Republicans, have foundno evidence of widespread voter fraudin the election.The bipartisan lawmakers on the Jan. 6 committee announced late last year they intend to holdpublic hearings to tell the full storyof the insurrection.The attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Samuel Corum/Getty"We want to tell it from start to finish over a series of weeks, where we can bring out the best witnesses in a way that makes the most sense,” a senior committee aidetoldThe Washington Postin December. “Our legacy piece and final product will be the select committee’s report.“The committee is also considering whether to recommend charges to the Justice Department for anyone involved in the events of Jan. 6, including former president Trump. They may also recommend legislation to make it harder to overturn another valid election in the future.The Justice Department, which is conducting criminal inquiries into the events leading up to the Capitol attack, reportedly requested transcripts from the committee’s interviews,according toThe New York Times. The transcripts from the long list of witnesses could provide new evidence or leads in potential cases.“My understanding is they want to have access to our work product, and we told them, ‘No, we’re not giving that to anybody,'” Thompson said Tuesday, according to reports. He added that DOJ officials might be allowed to review records in the committee’s office.

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty

The panel of lawmakers investigating theattack on the U.S. Capitolon Jan. 6, 2021, have interviewed more than 1,000 people. Now, it appears,Donald Trump, whose supporters disrupted the electoral vote count to try and overturn the 2020 election results in his favor, won’t be added to the list.Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee conducting the investigation, said it is “not our expectations to do that,” referring to calling the former president as a witness.“We’re not sure that the evidence that we receive can be any more validated with his presence,” Thompson told reporters Tuesday,according to Politico. “I think the concern is whether or not he would add any more value with his testimony.“While Thompson reportedly indicated that a final decision has not been made about requesting Trump’s testimony, he said the topic is “not in the day-to-day wheelhouse of our discussions.“The committee has conducted interviews with members ofTrump’s inner circle, including his daughterIvanka Trumpand her husbandJared Kushner, who both served as top aides in the White House.Thompson said the Trump’s daughterhelped the panel"fill in a lot of the gaps” about her father’s role in the insurrection when she testified in April.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty ImagesOn Thursday, the panelsubpoenaed five House Republicans— including Minority LeaderKevin McCarthy— to compel the lawmakers to give testimony as they attempt to unravel the plan to keep Trump in power despite President Joe Biden’s electoral win.Since leaving the White House, Trump has continued making unfounded claims of victory in the 2020 presidential election, though Biden won both the electoral and popular votes and has been in office for almost 500 days.Despite Trump’s baseless allegations of wrongdoing, officials in nearly every state, including both Democrats and Republicans, have foundno evidence of widespread voter fraudin the election.The bipartisan lawmakers on the Jan. 6 committee announced late last year they intend to holdpublic hearings to tell the full storyof the insurrection.The attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Samuel Corum/Getty"We want to tell it from start to finish over a series of weeks, where we can bring out the best witnesses in a way that makes the most sense,” a senior committee aidetoldThe Washington Postin December. “Our legacy piece and final product will be the select committee’s report.“The committee is also considering whether to recommend charges to the Justice Department for anyone involved in the events of Jan. 6, including former president Trump. They may also recommend legislation to make it harder to overturn another valid election in the future.The Justice Department, which is conducting criminal inquiries into the events leading up to the Capitol attack, reportedly requested transcripts from the committee’s interviews,according toThe New York Times. The transcripts from the long list of witnesses could provide new evidence or leads in potential cases.“My understanding is they want to have access to our work product, and we told them, ‘No, we’re not giving that to anybody,'” Thompson said Tuesday, according to reports. He added that DOJ officials might be allowed to review records in the committee’s office.

The panel of lawmakers investigating theattack on the U.S. Capitolon Jan. 6, 2021, have interviewed more than 1,000 people. Now, it appears,Donald Trump, whose supporters disrupted the electoral vote count to try and overturn the 2020 election results in his favor, won’t be added to the list.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee conducting the investigation, said it is “not our expectations to do that,” referring to calling the former president as a witness.

“We’re not sure that the evidence that we receive can be any more validated with his presence,” Thompson told reporters Tuesday,according to Politico. “I think the concern is whether or not he would add any more value with his testimony.”

While Thompson reportedly indicated that a final decision has not been made about requesting Trump’s testimony, he said the topic is “not in the day-to-day wheelhouse of our discussions.”

The committee has conducted interviews with members ofTrump’s inner circle, including his daughterIvanka Trumpand her husbandJared Kushner, who both served as top aides in the White House.

Thompson said the Trump’s daughterhelped the panel"fill in a lot of the gaps” about her father’s role in the insurrection when she testified in April.

OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

On Thursday, the panelsubpoenaed five House Republicans— including Minority LeaderKevin McCarthy— to compel the lawmakers to give testimony as they attempt to unravel the plan to keep Trump in power despite President Joe Biden’s electoral win.

Since leaving the White House, Trump has continued making unfounded claims of victory in the 2020 presidential election, though Biden won both the electoral and popular votes and has been in office for almost 500 days.

Despite Trump’s baseless allegations of wrongdoing, officials in nearly every state, including both Democrats and Republicans, have foundno evidence of widespread voter fraudin the election.

The bipartisan lawmakers on the Jan. 6 committee announced late last year they intend to holdpublic hearings to tell the full storyof the insurrection.

The attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Samuel Corum/Getty

“We want to tell it from start to finish over a series of weeks, where we can bring out the best witnesses in a way that makes the most sense,” a senior committee aidetoldThe Washington Postin December. “Our legacy piece and final product will be the select committee’s report.”

The committee is also considering whether to recommend charges to the Justice Department for anyone involved in the events of Jan. 6, including former president Trump. They may also recommend legislation to make it harder to overturn another valid election in the future.

The Justice Department, which is conducting criminal inquiries into the events leading up to the Capitol attack, reportedly requested transcripts from the committee’s interviews,according toThe New York Times. The transcripts from the long list of witnesses could provide new evidence or leads in potential cases.

“My understanding is they want to have access to our work product, and we told them, ‘No, we’re not giving that to anybody,'” Thompson said Tuesday, according to reports. He added that DOJ officials might be allowed to review records in the committee’s office.

source: people.com