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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) issued a statement on Friday stating that he is unlikely to comply with a subpoena issued this month asking him to testify before the House select committee investigating the case. ‘attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
An 11-page response to McCarthy’s attorney committee questioned the committee’s authority and said panel lawmakers “are not exercising a valid or lawful use of congressional power of attorney,” according to a letter from ‘Elliot S. Berke, McCarthy’s lawyer. .
Berke continues to ask the committee for information, including a more specific list of the issues and topics the committee intends to discuss with McCarthy, along with the legal justification justifying the subpoena request. McCarthy’s attorney also asks if the committee adheres to the limits of the resolution authorized by the panel.
“While Congress maintains a broad and impressive power of constitutional oversight to serve as an important part of our system of checks and balances and separation of powers, it is not democratic for a majority party to try to use all the strength of the federal government to attack. perceived political rivals, “argues Berke.
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McCarthy’s decision comes after MP Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told the panel that he would cooperate with the committee’s summons only if they meet certain conditions, such as sharing in advance all the evidence the committee has obtained about his role. in January. 6 attack.
McCarthy and Jordan wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal this week criticizing the bipartisan committee for “arming the government to attack Republicans” and saying they had “no relevant information” to provide the panel to “advance its legislative purpose.” “. ”
Other Republican members of Congress who were cited include Reps Mo Brooks (Ala.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.) And Scott Perry (Pa.), Who have refused to provide information voluntarily to the committee.
“The refusal of these members to cooperate is a continuing assault on the rule of law and sets a new dangerous precedent that could hamper the House’s ability to control in the future,” committee spokesman Tim Mulvey said in a statement. communicated Friday night. “President [Bennie G.] Thompson will formally respond to these members in the coming days. “
The House committee is on track to begin public hearings on the attack next month.
McCarthy’s escalation means the panel will have to quickly decide on the next enforcement actions for non-compliant lawmakers.
Jordan is requesting evidence from the Jan. 6 panel as a condition of meeting the committee
Panel lawmakers have previously pointed out a range of possible disciplinary action for recalcitrant House Republicans, including remittance of criminal contempt to the Department of Justice and a referral to the House Ethics Committee.
“No conversation about contempt. We’ll talk about the next steps, which could be several things,” Thompson (D-Miss.) Told reporters in early May after the committee announced the citations.
The response from Republican lawmakers may also set the precedent for more possible future citations between members in the event that Republicans regain a majority in the November legislature. House Republicans are already laying the groundwork for a series of GOP-led investigations against the Biden administration and Democrats.