A House of Representatives commission investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol has called on former White House adviser Pat Chipolon to make public testimony following public requests.
“The committee’s investigation has revealed evidence that Mr. Chipolon has repeatedly raised legal and other concerns about President Trump’s activities on Jan. 6 and in previous days,” said President Benny Thompson (D-Miss.) And Vice President Liz Cheney. declaration.
“While the elected committee evaluates Mr. Chipolow’s earlier informal commitment to our investigation, the committee should hear from him in the minutes, as other former White House advisers did in other congressional investigations.”
“Any concerns that Mr Chipolone has about the institutional prerogatives of the position he previously held are clearly outweighed by the need for his testimony,” they added.
The summons was followed by testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a special aide to Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, that Chipolone had expressed legal concerns about former President Trump’s plans to march to the Capitol and that he had repeatedly urged the White House to do more while violent. attack unfolds. on January 6th.
Cipollone met with commission investigators in April, but did not meet for an officially recorded statement.
Chipolone will be the second former White House official to testify publicly, and is also in a unique position to weigh the former president’s state of mind and his personal awareness of various schemes to keep him in power.
This is a detail that the commission notes in its subpoena, which cites conspiracies to send fake election certificates to Congress and to replace the leadership of the Ministry of Justice in favor of a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice who wants to hand over an investigation to unfounded allegations. Trump for election fraud.
Chipolone was among those present at a Jan. 3 meeting at which he and others pushed Trump away from the idea. His office also opposed the fraudulent voter scheme because it was not legally viable, Hutchinson said in earlier statements.
“The selection committee continues to gather evidence for which you have a unique position to testify; unfortunately, however, you refused to cooperate further, “the commission said in its summons.
“We have no choice but to issue you this summons.
Cipollone did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Cheney reaffirmed his public call for his testimony under oath on Wednesday morning with a tweet that followed a request for a hearing last week for the White House attorney to appear.
However, the commission may have little right to a defense if it refuses to comply.
Other Trump aides, such as Meadows, have sued the commission, citing executive privilege. Although the commission and the House of Representatives voted disrespectful to him, the justice ministry said it had no plans to act on the recommendation.
Hutchinson said in a quick hearing on Tuesday that Chipolone was very concerned about Trump’s plans to go to the Capitol with his supporters on January 6.
He said it could appear that Trump was trying to provoke a riot, obstruct justice or defraud the election count.
“Please make sure we don’t go up to the Capitol, Cassidy,” Hutchinson said, passing the message to Chipolon that morning. “We will be blamed for every crime we can imagine if we make this move happen.”
Chipolone also stormed Meadows’ office shortly after the rebels entered the Capitol, determined to get some response from Trump.
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“He doesn’t want to do anything, Pat,” Meadows said.
“Mark, something has to be done, or people will die and the blood will be on your efficient hands,” Chipolone replied, according to Hutchinson.
Updated: 8:07 PM
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