The committee seeks answers from the former president about his role in the Capitol riot, demanding records and sworn testimony.
The committee investigating the January 6 US Capitol riot has officially subpoenaed former President Donald Trump, demanding both testimony and documents as part of their inquiry into the events surrounding the attack. The panel claims that Mr Trump was directly responsible for orchestrating an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
In a formal letter sent on Friday, the committee accused Mr Trump of playing a central role in inciting a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol. The attack, which saw rioters clash with police using weapons like batons, sledgehammers, and metal pipes, aimed to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election victory.
The subpoena, signed by Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, requires Mr Trump to provide testimony under oath by November 14. It also demands a series of documents, including communications with members of Congress and extremist groups.
“We recognise that a subpoena to a former president is an unprecedented action,” the committee leaders wrote, acknowledging the gravity of their decision. “We do not take this step lightly.”
As of now, Trump’s legal team has yet to respond to the subpoena. The committee asserts that it has gathered “overwhelming evidence” suggesting that Mr Trump personally sought to undo his electoral defeat. This allegedly involved spreading false claims of voter fraud, pressuring the Justice Department, and attempting to convince state officials, Congress members, and even his vice president to alter the election outcome.
Despite this evidence, critical information about Mr Trump’s actions and statements during the riot remains unclear, and the committee insists that only Mr Trump can provide the missing details. The bipartisan panel, consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans, unanimously voted in favour of issuing the subpoena.
The subpoena follows a recent development involving Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Mr Trump, who was sentenced to four months in prison after refusing to cooperate with the committee’s investigation. Bannon, a key figure in Trump’s 2016 campaign, has been closely involved with the rise of nationalist populism in Europe, endorsing leaders like Marine Le Pen and Matteo Salvini.
