Donald Trump Mocks Jan. 6 Committee As “Bust” After It Votes To Subpoena Ex-POTUS

UPDATE, 7:10 AM Friday: Donald Trump followed up his Twitter rants about the January 6th Committee with a 14-page letter to the committee chairman, Bennie Thompson.

The letter begins with Trump’s all caps declaration, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020 WAS RIGGED AND STOLEN.

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Trump again blames Nancy Pelosi for January 6th, arguing that, in the days leading up, she declined the use of the National Guard at the Capitol. But there is no evidence that Pelosi was involved in pre-January 6th decisions whether to deploy the National Guard. According to the testimony of the former chief of the Capitol Police is that she was not involved and therefore did not stop them from deploying. Moreover, a bipartisan Senate investigation of security failures on January 6th makes no reference to Pelosi’s involvement. Rather, the January 6th Committee’s proceedings on Thursday focused on the extent to which Secret Service officials and Trump administration figures were made aware of the threats of violence on January 6. Moreover, newly released video shows some GOP members, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), were with Pelosi, Schumer and other congressional leaders in a secure location on January 6th, as they feverishly made calls for help. Yet bizarrely enough, top Republicans have continued to try to pin blame on Pelosi for the attack that was fomented by Trump.

In his letter, Trump does refer to his rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol, where he said that he would be going with his supporters to the hill. But he fixated on the crowd size for the event, and even included photos.

What Trump didn’t do was say whether he would comply with the committee subpoena of his testimony.

— Ted Johnson

PREVIOUSLY, October 13: Surprising no one, Donald Trump today quickly lashed out at the January 6 Select Committee after a vote to subpoena the former president over his role in the insurrection and attack on the Capitol last year.

Taking to his Truth Social platform this afternoon, Trump let loose a barrage of would-be tweets:

With a number of Trump confidents like former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows blatantly ignoring subpoenas from the Democrats dominated Congressional panel, it is almost certain that today’s vote will not result in the one-time Reality TV host showing up and swearing an oath.

Trump was responding to today’s bombshell hearing of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, after which it voted unanimously to subpoena the former president to testify. “This is a question about accountability to the American people,” said chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) just before the committee vote was held on live TV. “He must be accountable. He is required to answer for his actions. He’s required to answer to those police officers who put their lives and bodies on the line to defend our democracy. He’s required to answer to those millions of Americans whose votes he wanted to throw out as part of his scheme to remain in power.”

Still advocating that his 2020 victory was stolen, Trump has undermined the motivation and work of the Select Committee since it was first proposed last year. His attacks on the Select Committee have received wide-spread support from Republicans, from the party’s leadership to its increasingly hardcore grassroots. The hearing on Thursday centered on Trump’s state of mind in the weeks and months leading up to January 6th, as committee members presented evidence that he admitted he lost the 2020 presidential election yet continued in his efforts to overturn it.

During the televised proceeding, the panel also showed shocking behind-the-scenes footage from January 6, 2021, of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer making calls for help to military and political officials as a blood thirsty MAGA mob stormed the Capitol building.

Having started out in primetime earlier this summer, Thursday’s hearing looks to be the last one for the Select Committee before next month’s midterms elections. The results of the midterms will determine if the panel continues its work or if a GOP run House of Representatives shuts the whole thing down and turns on Trump critics.

Erik Pedersen & Ted Johnson contributed to this report

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