The U.S. House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol formally issued a subpoena to former President Donald Trump (R) on Friday.
“As demonstrated in our hearings, we have assembled overwhelming evidence, including from dozens of your former appointees and staff, that you personally orchestrated and oversaw a multi-part effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and to obstruct the peaceful transition of power,” the letter to Trump states.
The letter makes numerous allegations against the former president, including:
“Purposely and maliciously disseminating false allegations of fraud related to the 2020 presidential election in order to aid your effort to overturn the election and for purposes of soliciting contributions;”
“Attempting to corrupt the Department of Justice, including by soliciting and enlisting Department officials to make false statements and aid your effort to overturn the presidential election;”
“Without any evidentiary basis, illegally pressuring state officials and legislators to change the results of the election in their states;”
“Orchestrating and overseeing an effort to obtain and transmit false electoral certificates to Congress and the National Archives;”
“Despite knowing specifically that it was illegal, corruptly pressuring your own Vice President to unilaterally refuse to count electoral votes during Congress’s joint session on January 6th;”
“Pressuring Members of Congress to object to valid slates of electors from several states;”
“Filing false information, under oath, in federal court;”
“Summoning tens of thousands of supporters to Washington and, knowing they were angry and some were armed, sending them to the Capitol;”
“Sending a social media message to the nation at 2:24 p.m.-while knowing full well that the violent attack on the Capitol was occurring-in which you incited further violence by publicly condemning your Vice President; and”
“Refusing for hours to disband your rioting supporters by instructing them to leave the Capitol, while you watched the attack unfold on television.”
The letter demanded that Trump turn over various communication records, photographs, videos, notes, and documents to the committee related to their investigation.
The committee specifically wanted communication records of any interactions that Trump had with Roger Stone, Stephen Bannon, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (ret.), Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Rudolph Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Cleta Mitchell, and Patrick Byrne.
The committee ordered Trump to produce the sought records by 10 a.m. on November 4, 2022, and ordered him to testify at a deposition on November 14, 2022.
There are numerous factors that could prevent the committee from being able to compel Trump’s cooperation with the subpoena, including legal issues regarding separation of powers, and the fact that the committee ends in January, meaning Trump could effectively run out the clock by fighting the subpoena in court.
This story has been updated to include additional information.
