Jan. 6 Committee Seeks Interview With Kevin McCarthy

Politics|Jan. 6 Committee Seeks Interview With Kevin McCarthy

WASHINGTON — The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the Capitol connected Wednesday formally requested an interview with Representative Kevin McCarthy, the number leader, who was successful adjacent interaction with erstwhile President Donald J. Trump during and aft the violence.

The missive to Mr. McCarthy is the committee’s latest effort to larn much astir Mr. Trump’s actions arsenic mob rioters stormed the gathering for hours connected Jan. 6 and his mind-set successful the days that followed. It made Mr. McCarthy, a California Republican, the highest-ranking lawmaker the sheet has pursued successful its inquiry.

“You person acknowledged speaking straight with the erstwhile president portion the unit was underway connected Jan. 6,” Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi and president of the committee, wrote in a missive to Mr. McCarthy.

In particular, the sheet said it was funny successful a telephone telephone that Mr. McCarthy had with Mr. Trump during the riot. Mr. McCarthy antecedently described the call, successful which helium asked Mr. Trump to nonstop assistance to the Capitol arsenic a convulsive mob breached the complex, arsenic “very heated.”

During that call, according to an relationship fixed past twelvemonth during impeachment proceedings, Mr. Trump sided with the rioters, telling Mr. McCarthy that they were evidently much upset astir the predetermination than the Republican person was.

Mr. Thompson besides noted that Mr. McCarthy had spoken with Mr. Trump soon aft the attack.

“It appears that you had 1 oregon much conversations with the president during this period, including a speech connected oregon astir Jan. 11,” Mr. Thompson wrote, adding: “It appears that you whitethorn besides person discussed with President Trump the imaginable helium would look a censure resolution, impeachment, oregon removal nether the 25th Amendment. It besides appears that you whitethorn person identified different imaginable options, including President Trump’s contiguous resignation from office.”

It was the 3rd clip the committee has asked a Republican lawmaker to voluntarily hold to an interview. Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Jim Jordan of Ohio person refused to cooperate with the panel.

The committee has yet to contented a subpoena for grounds from immoderate lawmaker, but members person said they could bash truthful if interviews are refused.