Topline
In an attempt to pressure Yahoo to stop complying with the House select committee's records request, a group of eleven right-leaning Republican lawmakers sent a wrongly addressed letter to the Yahoo former CEO.
WASHINGTON DC - JULY 27, 2018: (L-R), Rep. Bob Good, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Andy... [+] Biggs, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, hold a news conference in Washington DC, July 27, 2021. A group of far-right conservatives called for answers from Attorney General Merrick Galrland about the situation of January 6 prisoners. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images). Getty Images
The Key Facts
Forbes first reported that the letter was sent to Marissa Mayer who had resigned as CEO at the web services and email firm more than four years prior, instead of Guru Gowrappan, the current CEO. This was just one of dozens sent to AT&T, Apple, and Verizon by 11 right-wing Republicans, including Reps. Andy Biggs, Jim Banks, (R-Ind.), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R.Ga.). Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. The letters ask companies to decline the January 6 panel's request to preserve phone records and data of Capitol Riot defendants and other people who attempted to overturn the election. They also promise to pursue all legal remedies if they don't. The probe is likely to target many of the letter signatories, including Madison Cawthorn (R.N.C.) and Rep. Mo Brooks (R.Ala.), who spoke at the Stop The Steal rally that took place outside the White House before the Capitol riot. These letters addressed that possibility, with lawmakers notifying companies they won't release confidential call records or data in response to their threat of legal actions.
Important Background
Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, tapped Banks to join the committee in July. Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, was able to veto Banks and Rep. Jim Jordan (R.Ohio), causing McCarthy to withdraw his three other picks.
Chief Critic
I would recommend that he never goes there again. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R.Ill.), spoke Sunday about McCarthy telling telecom companies that the GOP will not forget those who comply with their request if they retake Congress. Kinzinger is one of two Republicans who were appointed by Pelosi to the committee. He said that the threat was really bad politics.
Surprising Fact
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is an ethics watchdog that has filed a complaint with Office of Congressional Ethics asking for an investigation into McCarthy and Greene for making threats to companies in response to the request.
Big Number
35 This is the number of tech, telecom and email companies that the committee asked to preserve telephone records. The panel also requested records from eight federal agencies and 15 social media companies.
What to Watch
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Kinzinger. The vice-chair of the committee, Kinzinger, and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) are currently facing calls to be removed from the House Republican Conference, mainly by the same group that wrote the letter Mayer. McCarthy has yet to say whether the vote will take place on whether or not they are removed, as requested by lawmakers.
