Trump reportedly jumped at the chance to publicly testify before Jan. 6 committee, but his lawyers said no


If former President Donald Trump defies his subpoena to testify before the House Jan. 6 committee, as seems likely, you can probably blame the cooler heads of his legal team.
Almost immediately after the Jan. 6 committee voted on TV to subpoena Trump, he "began telling people close to him that he'd love to testify before the congressional panel — if he got to do it on live television," Asawin Suebsaeng and Adam Rawnsley report at Rolling Stone, citing three people familiar with the matter. "Even the idea of it sent Trump's advisers scrambling to convince him it would be a disaster."
One Trump legal adviser summarized the response from Trump's lawyers: "Absolutely f--king not." Trump's lawyers told him Jan. 6 committee members would try to get him to perjure himself, Rolling Stone reports, and they might succeed, "particularly given Trump's penchant for lying."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's initial response to the subpoena was a 14-page letter that attacked the committee but didn't say if he would testify. Since then, he has shared on social media a Fox News article claiming Trump "loves the idea of testifying."
If Trump did agree to testify, but only on live television, it isn't 100 percent certain the Jan. 6 committee would agree to those terms, though panel vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) didn't reject the idea outright on Sunday's Meet the Press. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) goaded Trump on MSNBC: "I don't think he's man enough to show up. I don't think his lawyers will want him to show up because he has to testify under oath."
Ty Cobb, a lawyer who represented Trump during Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation — Trump did not agree to testify, despite early signs he was willing to — agreed with Pelosi's assessment, though.
"I don't think any lawyer who truly has Trump's best interests, and is not merely following Trump's orders, at heart could — in his or her right mind — advise him to testify before the Jan. 6 committee," Cobb told Rolling Stone. "It is clear that testifying would be a bad idea, as highlighted by the fact that his initial reaction to the subpoena included a multi-page screed where he repeated the completely discredited theories of the Big Lie." You can read more at Rolling Stone.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
July 20 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include AI replacing workers, and Donald Trump trying to divert media attention away from the Epstein files
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring
-
Elon Musk's America Party: a billionaire's folly?
Talking Point One-time Trump ally has acquired a taste for political power and clearly wants more of it
-
'For frequent travelers, the costs add up'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
'Singling out crypto for special scrutiny would be misguided'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports