Trump Seeks Court Approval for Subpoenas of Jan. 6 Committee Documents

Attorneys for Former President Trump Seek Subpoenas in Jan. 6 Investigation

Former President Trump’s Legal Team Requests Subpoenas

Attorneys representing former President Trump are seeking permission from a judge to subpoena the former chairman of the House committee responsible for investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump’s lawyers claim that the committee failed to provide all the evidence it had collected, echoing a disputed statement made by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), the chairman of the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee.

Disputes Over Evidence Collection

In a court filing, Trump’s legal team requests subpoenas for six other officials in addition to Loudermilk. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who led the committee, previously refuted Loudermilk’s claims, explaining that the committee had indeed turned over all necessary work products and official records. However, transcripts of all witness interviews were included, while certain video recordings were not used in the hearings.

Expanded Subpoena Requests

Furthermore, Trump’s lawyers are requesting subpoenas for Loudermilk, his committee, and the House clerk. It is expected that Thompson, like Loudermilk, would be able to reject the subpoena based on the protections provided by the Constitution’s Speech and Debate clause. Additionally, Trump seeks to subpoena the national archivist and attorneys from the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Claims Based on Loudermilk’s Complaints

Trump’s claims in court appear to be solely based on the complaints made by Loudermilk. Trump’s attorneys reference a letter from Loudermilk to Thompson, as well as a subsequent story from Fox News, both describing the evidence as disorganized. Loudermilk alleged that only 2.5 terabytes of data out of the total 4 terabytes collected by the committee were properly organized on the committee’s e-discovery platform, with the remaining data stored on external hard drives.

Committee’s Response and Transparency

Thompson responded to Loudermilk’s claims by stating that the committee was not obligated to save every single file, including video recordings of transcribed interviews or depositions. He emphasized the committee’s “unprecedented transparency” and highlighted the extensive public sharing of records prior to the committee’s dissolution.

Trump’s Allegations and Call for Subpoenas

Nevertheless, Trump’s court filing resurrects a congressional dispute that had received little attention since the summer. The filing accuses the panel of acting deceitfully by handing over certain sensitive records to the White House and DHS, claiming that it was not a legitimate “loan” of the documents. Trump’s lawyers argue that he is entitled to seek the missing records through subpoenas to determine if they have been lost, destroyed, or altered.

Responses and Potential Legal Battles

Representatives from Thompson’s office declined to comment on the matter, while the Committee on House Administration has yet to respond to requests for comment. Should the judge approve Trump’s requests for subpoenas, it is expected that further legal battles may ensue if any of the subpoenaed individuals choose to challenge them.

Read More of this Story at thehill.com – 2023-10-11 21:09:00