“In the days before the January 6th attack, the former President’s closest allies and advisors drove a campaign of misinformation about the election and planned ways to stop the count of Electoral College votes. Select Committee needs to know every detail about their efforts to overturn the election, including who they were talking to in the White House and in Congress, what connections they had with rallies that escalated into a riot, and who paid for it all. Select Committee expects all witnesses to cooperate with our investigation as we work to get answers for the American people, recommend changes to our laws that will strengthen our democracy, and help ensure nothing like January 6th ever happens again.” ~ Chairman Thompson
Chairman Thomas may expect compliance, from those issued subpoenas, but that doesn’t mean he’ll get it. Today makes 22 days since the 1/6 commission found Trump’s former advisor, Steve Bannon, in criminal contempt for defying his subpoena from the select committee. The Justice Department is required to decide whether to prosecute those found in contempt. Crickets.
Now, Trump’s former Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, has made he refuses to comply with his subpoena. The statement by the commission, “Meadows could face criminal charges after ignoring the subpoena.” Ominous? Not when you consider the fate of Steve Bannon.
The committee investigating the attempted coup has as of now issued 35 subpoenas to individuals and organizations as part of its probe into circumstances and coordination leading up to the attack.
The list, which includes Bannon and Meadows, is: Trump’s close allies–1-4, Organizers of rallies and events preceding January 6 attack–5-18, Department of Justice — 19, Trump campaign officials–20-25, Trump White House officials—26-35
- Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff
- Daniel Scavino, former White House deputy chief of staff for communications
- Kashyap Patel, former Defense Department official
- Stephen Bannon, former Trump adviser
- Amy Kremer, founder and chair of Women For America First
- Kylie Kremer, founder and executive director of Women For America First
- Cynthia Chafian, submitted the first permit application on behalf of Women For America First for the January 6 rally, and founder of the Eighty Percent Coalition
- Caroline Wren, recorded on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “VIP Advisor”
- Maggie Mulvaney, named on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “VIP Lead”
- Justin Caporale, of Event Strategies, Inc., listed on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “Project Manager.”
- Tim Unes, of Event Strategies, Inc., listed on paperwork for the January 6 rally as “Stage Manager.”
- Megan Powers, of MPowers Consulting LLC, named on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “Operations Manager for Scheduling and Guidance.”
- Hannah Salem, of Salem Strategies LLC, on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “Operations Manager for Logistics and Communications.”
- Lyndon Brentnall, of RMS Protective Services, listed on permit paperwork for the January 6 rally as “On-Site Supervisor.”
- Katrina Pierson, former Trump campaign official, reportedly involved in the organization of the January 5 and January 6 rallies and was in direct communication with the former President about the rallies.
- Ali Alexander, connected to permit applications for the “Stop the Steal” rally
- Nathan Martin, connected to permit applications for the “Stop the Steal” rally
- Stop the Steal, LLC, organization affiliated with “Stop the Steal” rally
- Jeffrey Clark, former Department of Justice official reportedly involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election
- William Stepien, Trump 2020 campaign manager
- Jason Miller, former senior adviser to Trump 2020 campaign
- John Eastman, an attorney who helped craft Trump’s argument that the election was stolen
- Michael Flynn, former Trump national security adviser who was involved in meeting about how the Trump campaign wanted to promote the lie that the election was stolen
- Angela McCallum, national executive assistant to former Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign
- Bernard Kerik, participated in a meeting at the Willard Hotel centered around overturning election results.
- Nicholas Luna, Trump’s personal assistant
- Molly Michael, Trump’s special assistant to the President and Oval Office operations coordinator
- Ben Williamson, Trump’s deputy assistant to the President and senior adviser to then-chief of staff Mark Meadows
- Christopher Liddell, former Trump White House deputy chief of staff
- John McEntee, Trump’s White House personnel director
- Keith Kellogg, national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence
- Kayleigh McEnany, former White House press secretary under Trump
- Stephen Miller, Trump senior adviser
- Cassidy Hutchinson, special assistant to the President for legislative affairs
- Kenneth Klukowski, former senior counsel to Clark, Assistant Attorney General.
The lineup is impressive, but without DOJ following through with ramifications for noncompliance, it is a list of epic failure. What motivation do these people have to show up?
Mr. Stern’s experience is another deterrent to those issued subpoenas. Can’t the commission offer witnesses protection against threats?
What is the point of the Commission? The House January 6 Commission will not end with arrests; only the DOJ can do that. The Commission is a fact finding mission. Those members of Congress who attempted to prevent the investigation did so to keep of the events that took place on 1/6 out of the public eye.
Select Committee Subpoenas Additional Witnesses Tied to Efforts to Overturn Election Results
While it appears Garland has gone missing, there is still hope. Welcome to the new guy. On November 5, Matt Graves was named US Attorney for DC. His department handles the 1/6 cases. It is their jurisdiction to issue indictments for contempt of Congress charges. President Biden nominated Graves for the position on July 26, but Republicans held up his confirmation.
Matthew M. Graves Takes Office as United States Attorney
No matter if this is a job for Merrick Garland or Matt Graves, if there are no repercussions for Steve Bannon, we move one step closer to authoritarianism. Congress is a coequal branch of government, but every day that passes without Bannon facing consequences, weakens Congressional authority.
If you wonder what has bound the GOP to Trump, here is some insight. The 13 Republicans who voted in favor of the infrastructure bill are on the receiving end of death threats, as are those who testify before the 1/6 commission.
Meanwhile, the members of Congress who played a part in the attack, and continue to threaten their colleagues, still hold their positions of power. This week, Representative Paul Gosar (R/AZ) posted a photoshopped animated video depicting himself killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D/NY). Will they take action against the Representative/dentist (whose large family tried to warn voters against him?)
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/581291-cheney-kinzinger-signal-theyd-back-gosar-censure?amp
The House GOP leadership is considering stripping 13 members of their House committee assignments, not for their participation in the insurrection or for issuing death threats, but over their votes in favor of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. This is GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s cowardice on display.
House Democrats Make History By Passing $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill
We still haven’t learned who removed the panic buttons from Representative Ayanna Pressley’s office. She told the Boston Globe that when she hid from the mob, she discovered “every panic button in my office had been torn out.”
And this is new information- During the insurrection, Mike Pence’s key card, as well as those of his Secret Service guards, were deactivated. He could not re-enter the Capitol Building to go into hiding. The key allows entry into the White House. They deactivated his key that evening after the events concluded. After they ushered him out of the Senate chamber, he had no choice but to wait in a parking area. He refused to get in a car with the Secret Service. Of course, Mike Pence is trying to block the publication of photos taken during that time. They will be turned over to the 1/6 Commission.
Journalist Reveals Key Jan. 6 Evidence Mike Pence Is Trying To Keep Hidden
A lot from Lydia 
This whole thing is one big cluster. Why did I even bother to get my hopes up? And Trump agrees with ‘hang Mike Pence.’ Comments, Pence? Please. We await your response.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our system of government is flawed in every way. This is not a democracy.
As far as Pence, I have a list of complaints-
First, he is impossible to read because he’s a Botox abuser.
Second, he calls his wife “mother” and won’t hold business dinners with other women, because he’s a misogynist from Indianastan.
Third, he’s a cultish religious zealot.
Fourth, he has no self awareness, thinking he has a shot in hell of being President.
Fifth, he asked Dan Quayle, (DAN QUAYLE!) for advice-several times — because he wanted to overthrow the government for Trump, out of fear.
Sixth, that fear of Trump has intensified after the “hang Pence” incident. He will never say a word against him. He’s a coward.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You nailed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person