*A video of former President Donald Trump is played during a hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The scandal of the January 6th attack has escalated this past week dramatically. Following almost two full years of investigation, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack has taken a major offensive step. In what was a unanimous decision, an official subpoena has been issued to Donald Trump, seeking testimony and documentation regarding the attack. In a governmental address released by the committee on October 21st, the government relayed their message to Trump, explaining how the committee has uncovered sufficient proof to pin Trump as the ringleader of the assault. As Chair Bennie Thompson (Democrat, Mississippi) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (Republican, Wyoming) wrote, “We have assembled overwhelming evidence, including from dozens of your former appointees and staff, that you personally orchestrated and oversaw a multi-part effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and to obstruct the peaceful transition of power.” The Chairs furthered their statement to Trump by denouncing his false claims of fraud, citing the rulings of over 60 courts, and reminded him of the history of ex-presidents testifying before Congress.
Many speculate that Trump and his legal team are readying themselves for a legal battle regardless of precedent. Trump’s attorneys agreed to receive the summons as of the 26th, but given Trump’s recent actions, it is unlikely that his team is willing to follow through on such a request; less than two weeks prior, Trump doubled down on his claims of voting fraud and denounced the committee in an Arizona GOP rally. Vice Chair Cheney has stated that the panel is willing to “take the steps [they] need to take” in the event of belligerent refusal but failed to elaborate. A unique demand made by Trump and his team is a live feed of the proceedings. The committee has expressed hesitation in giving Trump yet another soap box to preach upon, but in the words of Chair Thompson, “He is required to answer for his actions.”
Despite the evidence upon which the committee has based their accusations, Trump stands a chance in avoiding prosecution. An increasingly red House of Representatives has been hindering the investigations, hoping to hold out for the bell. The Committee is set to dissolve with the close of the current Congress in January, leaving the panel little room to organize and put forth their findings. If Trump were to refuse to provide the necessary information, the committee could move to have the House hold him in contempt and refer him to the Justice Department for prosecution. However, given said filibustering and combativeness in the House, the ability of the committee to get matters that far is under question. Despite the words of his legal team, Trump has failed to acknowledge the committee’s retaliation, remaining quiet on whether or not he will fight the ruling in court. Documents and relevant information are scheduled to be received on the 4th and Trump himself to follow through with a deposition, but it is yet to be seen if this monumental prosecution will be allowed to reach its conclusion.
Works Cited: https://pastebin.com/uKtqP9wM