Cipollone will appear under citation. A source familiar with his thinking says Cipollone intended to comply with the summons issued on June 29 for an interview on July 6, and that it lasted until July 8. The interview will be on video, two of the sources told CNN.
Cipollone, whom many former administration officials attribute to having helped prevent then-President Donald Trump from taking legally questionable actions during the months surrounding the 2020 presidential election, has long been considered a key witness by the committee. . He has resisted talking more with the committee after previously meeting for a closed-door interview on April 13th.
A spokesman for the commission declined to comment.
CNN previously reported before the interview that the topics would be limited to specific topics to avoid privilege issues, a lawyer familiar with Cipollone’s thinking told CNN.
The committee said in its subpoena that it has obtained evidence that Cipollone is “in a unique position to testify,” but that he had “refused to cooperate” after that interview, leaving the court “no choice.” to issue the summons. During the last public hearings, panel members publicly pressured Cipollone to testify.
Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the panel, and Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, vice chair of the panel, said in a statement after issuing the citation that “the select committee’s investigation has revealed evidence that the Mr. Cipollone has repeatedly raised legal concerns and other concerns about President Trump’s activities on Jan. 6 and the days before. “
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who is also a committee member, previously told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on “AC360” that the panel was willing to work on privilege issues with Cipollone to facilitate his testimony.
Lofgren said there are “quite a few things I could tell the committee would not be subject to privileges.”
This story has been updated with additional news Wednesday.