Jan. 6 committee thinks Kevin McCarthy will 'voluntarily come forward' for interview
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot requested Wednesday to interview House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about his communications with former President Donald Trump and ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows before, during, and after the Capitol attack, The Washington Post reports. McCarthy is the highest-ranking elected official the committee has asked to speak to, Axios notes.
In a letter to the lawmaker, committee Chairman Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said details of McCarthy's conversations with the former president and Meadows "could provide the committee with further insight into Trump's state of mind at the time," writes the Post.
"We also must learn about how the president's plans for Jan. 6th came together, and all the other ways he attempted to alter the results of the election," Thompson wrote to McCarthy. "For example, in advance of Jan. 6th, you reportedly explained to Mark Meadows and the former president that objections to the certification of the electoral votes on Jan. 6th 'was doomed to fail.'"
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.
Among other things, the chairman asked the minority leader about reports that McCarthy himself had encouraged Trump to stop the riot as it was happening, notes CNBC.
The committee had previously requested information from two other GOP House lawmakers, Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, both of whom declined to cooperate.
Thompson said Wednesday the committee thinks McCarthy will "voluntarily come forward," though a subpoena is on the table should he decline to do so.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published