Topline
The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Attack sent eight broad document requests to federal agencies Wednesday. This signaled an extensive scope for the panel, which will investigate everything from Trump's attempts to overturn the election to Trumps response.
UNITED STATES – JULY 27, 2012: Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) addresses media following the House Jan.... [+]6 select committee hearing in Cannon Building for the examination of the January 2021 attack at the Capitol. This hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. From left, Reps. Liz Cheney, R.Wyo., Jamie Raskin, D.Md., Zoe Lofgren, D.Calif., Pete Aguilar, D.Calif., Adam Kinzinger, R.Ill. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ–Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images). CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The Key Facts
The panel requested documents and communications from dozens of Trump aides and former aides in a 12-page letter addressed to NARA. This included Kayleigh McEnany, former press secretary, chief of staff Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, as well as most of Trump's children. The panel also requests communications between Trump's administration and right-wing influencers such as Stop The Steal leader Ali Alexander, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and state officials Trump attempted to enlist in order to overturn the election. Doug Ducey. These requests reflect the new role of the panel as Congress hub to investigate Trump's attempts to overturn the election and how these efforts led to hundreds of his angry supporters storming the Capitol on January 6. The panel will also examine communications between the White House, members of Congress and the White House on Jan. 6. This is a hint at a possibility that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hinted at earlier in the month. It will look into whether lawmakers such as Rep. Jim Jordan (R.Ohio), spoke with Trump that day. In a letter addressed to the Defense Department, this panel asks for documents detailing Trump's attempts to use military force to prevent the 2020 election and obstruct peaceful transfer of power. This includes discussions on declaring martial law or invoking Insurrection Act. The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, FBI, and other intelligence agencies are requesting documents about intel collected prior to Jan. 6. This includes threats against Mike Pence, former Vice President. Letters to NARA and the DOJ also address revelations regarding Trump's overtures to Department of Justice in support of baseless fraud claims and to bolster efforts to reverse the election.
Important Background
Nearly nine months after the attack, many unanswered questions remain. Trump supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens victory in 2020. Although several reports about the incident have been made, including by the Senates homeland security panel. House Democrats wanted a central investigative agency to give a complete account.
Important Quote
The Constitution allows for peaceful power transfers. This investigation will evaluate potential threats, learn from the past, and recommend policies, procedures, laws or regulations to safeguard our republic in the future. In a statement, the chairperson of the panel said that.
What to Watch
The letters request each agency to speed up the collection of documents. They point out a delay in providing documents requested in March by the House Oversight Committee and provide only two weeks to meet the latest request.
