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House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (California) issued a statement Friday saying he was unlikely to comply with a summons issued this month to testify before an elected House committee investigating the Capitol attack. January 6, 2021
McCarthy’s lawyer’s 11-page response to the committee called into question the committee’s authority and argued that lawmakers in the committee “do not exercise valid or legal authority to convene a subpoena,” according to a letter from Elliott S. Burke, McCarthy’s lawyer.
Burke continues to seek information from the committee, including a more specific list of topics and topics the committee intends to discuss with McCarthy, along with the legal justification justifying the request for a subpoena. McCarthy’s lawyer also asked if the commission adheres to the limits of the resolution that authorized the commission.
“While Congress maintains a vast and great power of constitutional oversight to serve as an important part of our system of checks and balances and separation of powers, it is undemocratic for a majority party to try to use all the power of the federal government to attack perceived political rivals. “Berke claims.
On January 6, Trump reportedly expressed support for the hanging of Pence during the uprising.
McCarthy’s decision comes after spokesman Jim Jordan (R. Ohio) told the committee he would only cooperate on the commission’s summons if they met certain conditions, such as sharing in advance all the evidence the commission received about his role in Ian. 6 attacks.
McCarthy and Jordan wrote in a Wall Street Journal this week criticizing the bipartisan commission for “arming the government to attack Republicans” and saying they had “no proper information” to provide to the panel to provide its legislative purpose. ”
Other Republican members of Congress who were called up included representatives of Mo Brooks (Alabama), Andy Biggs (Arizona) and Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), all of whom refused to voluntarily provide information to the committee.
“The refusal of these members to cooperate is an ongoing attack on the rule of law and sets a dangerous new precedent that could hamper the Chamber’s ability to oversee in the future,” commission spokesman Tim Mulvey said in a statement Friday night. “The President [Bennie G.] Thompson will formally respond to these members in the coming days. “
The House of Representatives committee is set to begin public hearings on the attack next month.
McCarthy’s escalation means that the committee will quickly have to decide on the next enforcement action for non-compliant legislators.
Jordan sought evidence from the commission on January 6 as a condition for complying with the commission’s requirements
Legislators in the committee previously pointed to a range of potential disciplinary measures for disobedient Republicans in the House of Representatives, including a crime of contempt of the Ministry of Justice and a reference to the House of Representatives’ Ethics Committee.
“No talk of contempt. We will talk about the next steps, which could be several things, “Thompson (D-Miss.) Told reporters earlier in May after the commission announced the summons.
The GOP MPs’ response could also set a precedent for more potential future member-to-member calls in the event that Republicans win a majority in the mid-term in November. Republicans in the House of Representatives are already laying the groundwork for a series of Republican investigations into the Biden administration and Democrats.
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