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Trump subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 committee. Here's what could hap next
Analysis From CNN's Zachary B. Wolf
The House Jan. 6 committee took the bonzer and theatrical measurement of voting to subpoena erstwhile President Donald Trump on Thursday.
A coda to its nationalist hearings, the subpoena might not pb to Trump’s grounds and handing implicit of documents, but it volition enactment arsenic a teaser for what’s to come.
The committee inactive has a study to people and could besides petition that the Justice Department prosecute charges against Trump oregon his erstwhile aides for their roles successful helping to incite the onslaught connected the Capitol and their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
What happens now? Trump could determine to comply. The committee would past negociate a time, spot and method. That would instrumentality time.
If he refuses to comply with the subpoena, here’s what could happen:
- Contempt. The afloat House, which is controlled by Democrats until astatine slightest January, could ballot to clasp him successful contempt of Congress, thing it’s done with respective different uncooperative witnesses.
- Referral. After a contempt of Congress referral, the Justice Department could past prosecute, arsenic it did with Trump’s erstwhile aide Steve Bannon and plans to bash with his erstwhile economical advisor Peter Navarro.
- Prosecution. If recovered guilty, arsenic Bannon was, Trump could theoretically look a minimum of 30 days successful jail. Bannon volition beryllium sentenced for failing to comply with the House subpoena aboriginal this month.
This series of events seems far-fetched for Trump.
“None of that is going to happen,” the Trump professional and blimpish lawyer George Conway predicted during an quality connected CNN connected Thursday. “This is astir laying a marker. This is astir triggering a effect [from Trump].”
Trump responded connected societal media, calling the committee a “BUST” and a “laughing stock” and accusing members of dividing the country.
Conway did constituent retired the Supreme Court has already made wide wherever it stands connected Trump’s presumption arsenic a erstwhile president erstwhile it ignored his attempt to artifact the National Archives from sharing accusation with the committee.
The court, notably, also declined connected Thursday to intervene on Trump’s behalf successful the Mar-a-Lago classified documents inquiry.
But the Justice Department, alternatively than spell aft Trump for ignoring a legislature subpoena, if it comes to that, has arguably larger and much important inquiries that impact his attraction of classified documents aft helium near the White House and his effort to overturn the predetermination arsenic president.
Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming said the Jan. 6 committee feels it has capable accusation to marque referrals to the Department of Justice for prosecutions stemming from the committee’s work. And she noted that much than 30 witnesses person invoked Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination with respect to their dealings with the former President.
What whitethorn travel adjacent for the Jan. 6 committee — and its investigation
From CNN's Zachary Cohen, Jeremy Herb, Annie Grayer and Sara Murray
While Thursday's hearing volition beryllium the Jan. 6 committee's past 1 earlier the midterm elections, the panel’s enactment is not yet complete, and aides person cautioned against the proceeding being the panel’s last word, noting that the probe is inactive ongoing.
The committee conscionable recently interviewed Ginni Thomas, the woman of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and the sheet past period subpoenaed Wisconsin GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos for testimony, which Vos sued to stop.
The prime committee’s probe has besides been moving toward a last report, though it’s inactive not wide what signifier that volition instrumentality oregon erstwhile it mightiness beryllium released. Sources accidental the sheet has besides not yet made immoderate determination connected whether to marque immoderate transgression referrals to the Department of Justice.
But careless of the presumption of the investigation, the committee has an outer deadline little than 3 months away: The extremity of the 117th Congress connected Jan. 3, 2023, erstwhile Republicans are favored to instrumentality power of the House successful the midterms.
Should erstwhile President Donald Trump object to the committee's subpoena, it could lead to a lengthy court combat that outlives the committee.
Ginni Thomas' grounds noticeably absent from Jan. 6 committee hearing
From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Zachary Cohen, Marshall Cohen and Devan Cole
Virginia Thomas leaves for a interruption during a closed-door gathering with House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack connected Capitol Hill connected September 29, successful Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/FILE)One idiosyncratic whose grounds was noticeably absent from the House prime committee's proceeding connected Thursday was Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, woman of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Committee members interviewed Thomas past period but yet her grounds was not featured arsenic portion of the past proceeding earlier the midterm election.
Despite saying for months that they wanted to perceive from Thomas, members downplayed the value of her grounds pursuing her interview, and it was wide up of Thursday that she was not expected to beryllium a cardinal portion of the proceeding that was alternatively solely focused connected erstwhile President Donald Trump.
But her lack was notable considering the sheet did usage grounds from respective different high-profile witnesses who had been interviewed since the committee’s astir caller proceeding earlier this summer.
Some context: Members of the sheet person agelong said they are funny successful speaking with Thomas, peculiarly aft CNN archetypal reported text messages she exchanged with then-Trump White House main of unit Mark Meadows. The texts amusement Thomas urging Meadows to proceed the combat to overturn the 2020 statesmanlike predetermination results.
The committee besides has email correspondence betwixt Thomas and Trump’s predetermination lawyer John Eastman.
Jan. 6 committee seat connected whether sheet volition spell to tribunal implicit Trump subpoena: "Let’s conscionable spot what happens"
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju, Sara Murray and Kristin Wilson
Rep. Bennie Thompson (CNN)Asked if the Jan. 6 committee is prepared to spell to tribunal if erstwhile President Donald Trump fails to comply with the subpoena, the panel's seat Rep. Bennie Thompson said, “Let’s conscionable spot what happens.”
“He’s a erstwhile President, we anticipation that helium honors it,” helium added.
Thompson besides said the subpoena of the erstwhile President would let him to “clear the record” of his ain culpability successful the events that led to the Jan. 6 riot astatine the Capitol.
“What we presented contiguous intelligibly shows the President’s culpability successful what occurred connected Jan. 6. So if helium wants to wide the record, helium volition person an accidental to bash it,” Thompson said.
When pressed by CNN’s Sara Murray connected wherefore Trump would comply with the subpoena erstwhile he’s already nether transgression probe and knows the enactment of the Jan. 6 committee volition end, Thompson said, “Well, inquire Donald Trump.”
Asked whether determination are concerns astir getting the enactment done earlier the caller Congress, helium said: “well we’ll bash our enactment until we sunset."
Jan. 6 committee isn't readying to subpoena Pence, seat says
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju, Sara Murray and Kristin Wilson
Rep. Bennie Thompson speaks to the media aft the committee voted to subpoena erstwhile President Donald Trump (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)Rep. Bennie Thompson, seat of the Jan. 6 committee, told CNN that the sheet is not readying to subpoena erstwhile Vice President Mike Pence, aft they voted to subpoena erstwhile President Donald Trump connected Thursday afternoon.
The Democrat from Mississippi answered "no" erstwhile asked by CNN’s Manu Raju whether it was successful the committee's plans.
Thompson besides told CNN that the committee’s erstwhile involvement successful proceeding from Pence has waned, saying “we person collected capable evidence" that Pence "did his job."
"We present request to perceive from the President," helium added.
Trump blasts Jan. 6 committee for voting to subpoena him
From CNN's Rashard Rose
Former President Donald Trump is blasting the Jan. 6 committee’s unanimous ballot to subpoena him for documents and testimony.
“Why didn’t the Unselect Committee inquire maine to attest months ago?" helium wrote connected his Truth Social societal media platform, utilizing a derisive moniker for the House prime committee connected the Jan. 6 attack.
"Why did they hold until the precise end, the last moments of their past meeting? Because the Committee is simply a full 'BUST' that has lone served to further disagreement our Country which, by the way, is doing precise severely - A laughing banal each implicit the World?”
Trump has prevented galore of his aides from sharing with the committee, urging them to invoke privilege.
More context: The ballot took spot astatine the extremity of today's Jan. 6 hearing, arsenic the sheet made its lawsuit that Trump lied astir the result of the 2020 predetermination and spurred connected a convulsive mob of his supporters to onslaught the Capitol.
It’s uncommon but not without precedent for Congress to subpoena sitting and erstwhile presidents for testimony. The enactment is expected to trigger a prolonged tribunal conflict implicit Trump’s imaginable compliance, which could adjacent outlast the committee itself.
Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson said the request to perceive from Trump "goes beyond our fact-finding," framing it arsenic a question of "accountability to the American people."
Trump has antecedently derided the sheet arsenic an “Unselect Committee of Political Thugs and Hacks” and said its members are “evil, sinister and unpatriotic.”
CNN's Manu Raju, Jamie Gangel, Annie Grayer and Clare Foran contributed reporting to this post.
Rep. Raskin says committee chose to subpoena Trump due to the fact that witnesses adjacent to him pled the Fifth
From CNN's Annie Grayer
Rep. Jamie Raskim listens arsenic the House prime committee investigating the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the U.S. Capitol holds a hearing. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, a subordinate of the Jan. 6 committee, told CNN the crushed the sheet felt it needed to subpoena erstwhile President Donald Trump is due to the fact that it has been incapable to nail down his circumstantial actions and conversations.
Raskin added that witnesses closest to Trump, who could provided specifics, person pled the Fifth erstwhile interviewed by the committee.
Raskin pushed backmost connected the conception that this subpoena would simply beryllium a symbolic enactment that gets tied up successful court.
“I privation to judge that each American national who knows thing astir these events would travel guardant to attest and cipher knows much astir them than Donald Trump," helium said.
But erstwhile pressed again connected however the committee volition grip Trump’s efforts to apt artifact this subpoena, Raskin said, “we haven't discussed that due to the fact that you're respective hypothetical steps down the roadworthy from us. But I'll accidental this, we surely person litigated successful the past, and I deliberation we've got a beauteous unbroken way grounds of winning our cases precisely due to the fact that each we're asking radical to bash is to travel guardant and testify. And the Supreme Court has been perfectly wide that Congress has the powerfulness to bash that.”
Key takeaways from the Jan. 6 committee's 10th nationalist hearing
From CNN’s Jeremy Herb and Zachary Cohen
Rep. Liz Cheney confers with Rep. Jamie Raskin astatine the decision of a proceeding connected October 13, successful Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)The House prime committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection wrapped up its 10th nationalist hearing, unveiling caller grounds and video that showed however erstwhile President Donald Trump knew helium had mislaid the predetermination but inactive went guardant with efforts to overturn the results, starring to the onslaught astatine the US Capitol.
During the hearing, the sheet also voted unanimously to subpoena Trump. It’s uncommon but not without precedent for Congress to subpoena sitting and erstwhile presidents for testimony.
Additionally, successful the astir 3 months since the past hearing, the sheet has obtained more than 1 cardinal records from the Secret Service. These messages revealed agents spotted galore guns successful the crowd the greeting of Jan. 6 earlier Trump was acceptable to talk astatine the Ellipse. Agents were besides alert of the engagement of right-wing groups.
Here are immoderate different key takeaways:
- Never-before-seen video: The committee played antecedently unseen footage from Fort McNair, the DC-area Army basal wherever legislature leaders took refuge during the insurrection and scrambled to respond to the unfolding crisis. The footage shows House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and different apical officials moving the phones and coordinating with Trump Cabinet members and different officials to unafraid the resources needed to quell the insurrection and unafraid the Capitol.
- Violent online rhetoric: Days earlier the attack, Trump’s connection adviser, Jason Miller, boasted to then-White House main of unit Mark Meadows that helium “got the basal FIRED UP,” and shared a nexus to a pro-Trump webpage containing hundreds of threatening comments astir sidesplitting lawmakers. “Our ‘lawmakers’ successful Congress tin permission 1 of 2 ways: 1. successful a assemblage container 2. After rightfully certifying Trump the winner,” 1 station connected the webpage said. “Gallows don’t necessitate electricity,” different station read. The committee said the Secret Service was besides monitoring this benignant of online activity.
- Threats against Pence: The Secret Service received alerts of online threats made against then-Vice President Mike Pence up of the Capitol insurrection, including that Pence would beryllium "'a dormant antheral walking if helium doesn't bash the close thing,’” according to committee subordinate Rep. Adam Schiff. On the time of the attack, Pence yet rejected pleas from Trump and his apical allies to halt certification of Joe Biden's victory
- Premeditated program to state victory: Deposition video and a memo obtained from the National Archives showed however erstwhile Vice President Mike Pence’s Counsel, Greg Jacob, and Pence’s then-chief of unit Marc Short prepared for Trump to state triumph connected Election Night, careless of the results. “We besides interviewed Brad Parscale, President Trump’s erstwhile run manager. He told america helium understood that President Trump planned arsenic aboriginal arsenic July that helium would accidental helium won the election, adjacent if helium lost,” committee subordinate Rep. Zoe Lofgren said.
- Trump knew helium mislaid — but tried to alteration results anyway: Cassidy Hutchinson, the erstwhile apical adjutant to Trump White House main of unit Mark Meadows, provided caller grounds to the committee relaying anecdotes of Trump acknowledging helium had mislaid the election. Hutchinson’s grounds had been immoderate of the astir damning against Trump during the summertime hearings, arsenic she provided elaborate accounts astir Trump’s actions connected Jan. 6. On Thursday, the committee showed a caller video deposition from Hutchinson wherever she spoke to Meadows astir Trump’s January 2021 telephone wherever helium urged the Georgia caput of authorities to “find” the votes helium needed to win. Hutchinson besides said that she witnessed a speech betwixt Meadows and Trump wherever helium was furious the Supreme Court had rejected a suit seeking to overturn the predetermination result.
CNN volition aerial exclusive Jan. 6 footage from Fort McNair connected Anderson Cooper 360 astatine 8 p.m. ET
From CNN's Marshall Cohen
(Pool)CNN has obtained antecedently unseen footage from Jan. 6, showing legislature leaders portion they took refuge astatine Fort McNair, 2 miles from the US Capitol.
The exclusive footage volition aerial connected CNN connected Thursday nighttime astatine 8 p.m. ET, during a peculiar variation of “Anderson Cooper 360°.” The footage shows legislature leaders, aft evacuating from the Capitol, gathering astatine Fort McNair moving the phones, trying to fig retired what was going connected astatine the overrun Capitol, and begging for assistance arsenic they frantically scrambled to quell the insurrection.
The House prime committee investigating the Jan. 6 onslaught aired snippets of this worldly astatine its proceeding Thursday. CNN has obtained further clips that weren’t shown by the committee.
CNN's Anderson Cooper said helium saw the entirety of the much than 40-minute agelong footage that was provided to the committee.
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