Washington — The Home choose committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol is conducting what's more likely to be its last interview Wednesday, committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson mentioned, as investigators put together to launch a report of their findings earlier than Republicans take management of the Home in January.
Thompson informed reporters on Capitol Hill that the panel wished to focus its interview with Wisconsin Meeting Speaker Robin Vos on a name that former President Donald Trump made to him encouraging him to alter the result of the 2020 presidential election. Vos informed a Wisconsin tv station over the summer time that Trump referred to as him on July 9 to push him to decertify the outcomes of the presidential election within the state, which President Biden received.
The decision from Trump to Vos got here after the Wisconsin Supreme Courtroom barred the use of most drop containers for voters returning their absentee ballots.
The choose committee issued a subpoena to Vos for his testimony in late September, and the Wisconsin Republican sued to dam it. Home investigators sought to query Vos about his July interplay with Trump concerning overturning the election outcomes, and Thompson mentioned in a letter accompanying the subpoena that the "circumstances and particulars concerning your interactions with former President Trump associated to the 2020 election are related" to the committee's probe.
"We simply need to see from the committee's perspective if there's any info that we will glean from that," Thompson informed reporters Wednesday, referring to Trump's name to Vos.
Whereas the Mississippi Democrat mentioned the committee shouldn't be anticipating to listen to from any extra witnesses, he mentioned members would make an "lodging" if Trump determined to adjust to the panel's subpoena for his testimony.
Committee members voted in October to subpoena Trump for paperwork and testimony, although he sued in an try to dam it. That lawsuit possible closed the door to Trump complying with investigators' calls for earlier than the panel is dissolved when Republicans take management of the Home.
Nonetheless, Thompson mentioned the committee has uncovered details about Trump's actions surrounding the 2020 election by means of depositions, which he might solely "both confirm or deny."
"He had a chance to come back earlier than the committee, inform his aspect. He selected to not, and that, in some situations, is an request for forgiveness on his half," he mentioned.
The choose committee has interviewed scores of witnesses as a part of its months-long investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol assault and Trump's efforts to cease the switch of energy and stay in workplace for a second time period. The panel's last report is anticipated to have eight chapters, Thompson mentioned, and so they've largely been written.
"These chapters are being fact-checked and checked out," he mentioned, although noting committee members haven't "gone pens down on the drafts but."
Each a printed and digital model of the findings will likely be launched in December, the chairman mentioned. The committee remains to be weighing whether or not to subject prison and ethics referrals, and members are set to fulfill Friday to debate the matter and another excellent points.
"There's info that we've got found, uncovered, that we'll need to decide as to what we do with it. Will we make prison referrals with a few of it? Will we make moral referrals?" Thomson mentioned. "Do we've got people who find themselves attorneys who, for no matter purpose had unethical conduct — can we have a look at potential bar expenses for these attorneys? So there are a number of issues that we're working by means of proper now."