US panel probing Jan 6 riot subpoenas 5 lawmakers, including top Republican

WASHINGTON

The US House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol issued extraordinary subpoenas for five prominent Republicans to testify on Thursday, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

In addition to the chamber's top Republican, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol formally sought the depositions of GOP congressmen Scott Perry, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, and Mo Brooks.

The committee previously sought their testimony voluntarily, but subpoenaed the Republicans, but it said "the committee has reason to believe that they have relevant knowledge of the events on or leading up to January 6th and activities related to the transfer of power."

Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson said the congressmen "receiving subpoenas today have refused" to participate voluntarily, "and we’re forced to take this step to help ensure the committee uncovers facts concerning January 6th."

"We urge our colleagues to comply with the law, do their patriotic duty, and cooperate with our investigation as hundreds of other witnesses have done," he said in a statement.

The members who received subpoenas had White House meetings, direct conversations with former US President Donald Trump in the run up to or during the attack, or "were involved in the planning and coordination of certain activities on and before January 6th," the committee alleged.

In a letter issued to McCarthy Jan. 12, the committee made clear that it wanted to discuss the minority leader's communications with Trump during the riot, as well as conversations McCarthy had with Trump's legal team and Jordan, who was also subpoenaed.

McCarthy has acknowledged speaking with Trump during the violence, and the committee said it wants to speak to him about the president's "state of mind" that day.