The U.S. House Select Committee Investigation of the January 6 Attack on the Capitol: Part 8
Social Justice Policy Brief #32 | By: Erika Shannon | February 11, 2022
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Policy Summary
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The investigation into the events that unfolded in our nation’s Capitol has been underway for several months and the Committee has interviewed hundreds of people and subpoenaed dozens. The Committee has also amassed tons of information; from text messages to data from social media sites. There is much to sort through. While the committee’s five teams work to sort through the information collected, the House Select Committee itself continues to subpoena persons of interest to figure out exactly what happened on January 6, 2021, and how they can help prevent something like it from happening again.
The most recent person to be subpoenaed by the committee is former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro. According to public reports and his own book, Navarro was involved in the efforts to delay Congress’s certification of the 2020 election and attempt to change the election of results. He also reportedly worked alongside Steve Bannon and others to develop and implement a plan to change the election’s outcome; in his book, Navarro refers to this plan as the “Green Bay Sweep.” He alleges that former President Trump was onboard with the plan. Since Navarro has not shied away from speaking about his role in delaying the certification of 2020 election results, the committee is hoping he will willingly come forth and testify along with the more than 500 people who have given information already.
The House Select Committee has also subpoenaed fourteen “alternate electors” for former President Trump from seven states. The states include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The fourteen individuals are alleged to have met on December 14, 2020 in the seven aforementioned states (that were carried by President Biden) and submitted bogus slates of Electoral College votes for Former President Trump. They then transmitted the purported Electoral College certificates to Congress
Policy Analysis
Multiple people advised former President Trump to try to justify delaying or blocking the certification of the election during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021 based on the actions of these alternate electors. The individuals subpoenaed include Nancy Cottle, Loraine Pellegrino, David Shafer, Shawn Still, Kathy Berden, Mayra Rodriguez, Jewll Powdrell, Deborah Maestas, Michael McDonald, James DeGraffenreid, Bill Bachenberg, Lisa Patton, Andrew Hitt, and Kelly Ruh.
The January 6th Committee continues to face its share of obstacles as the investigation carries on. Besides dealing with people refusing to comply with subpoenas, they have also faced criticism along the way. Recently, U.S. Representative Jim Jordan came out and questioned why the Committee has more than a dozen former prosecutors on its panel when it is not a criminal inquiry; Jordan is saying that the congressional probe is reaching too far. The Representative himself is currently refusing to cooperate with the panel after being asked to voluntarily describe the nature of his conversations with the former President ahead of the January 6 riots. While the Committee has not yet commented on his allegations, Jordan may be trying to draw focus away from his role in the delaying of the certification of the 2020 election results and Capitol riot.

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The Committee has been able to get access to Presidential documents and records that Trump took with him when he left office. By law these documents should have been turned over to the National Archives. Because they were not the Archives had to send a team to Trump’s winter home – Mara Lago – and reposes these records. Trump also is said to have torn up many documents and records while in the White House, according to eye witnesses.
The Committee is still waiting on certain people to come forth and give information, such as the former President’s daughter Ivanka Trump and talk show host Sean Hannity.
It is likely more people will be subpoenaed in the coming months as we wait for the investigation to eventually come to a head. It is clear that figuring out the truth will not be an easy feat, but the Committee is comprised of experienced representatives who have pledged to take an unbiased approach to this investigation.
The events that occurred on January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and posed a threat to our democracy here in the U.S. It’s important that the panel ascertains how to prevent an occurrence like this in the future.
This brief is part of an ongoing series in the Select Committee’s investigation; further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
Engagement Resources
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To read subpoenas and access other committee news, visit their media page