Trump Subpoenaed and New January 6 Footage Released

The U.S House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol held its final hearing before the November midterm elections on Thursday. 

The panel voted unanimously, 9 to 0, to subpoena former President Donald J. Trump as it presented a summary of its case placing him at the center of a calculated effort to overturn the 2020 U.S presidential elections. 

The committee’s chairman, Democratic Representative of Mississippi Bennie Thompson, declared Trump must answer questions directly in front of the American people.

“The need for this committee to hear from Donald Trump goes beyond our fact-finding,” Mr. Thompson said. “He must be accountable.”

Inside the Capitol on January 6 – New Footage

Among the new evidence from the final hearing were texts from Secret Service agents warning of potential threats to former Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress. 

Democratic Representative of California Adam Schiff, revealed a Secret Service field office shared a tip on December 26, 2020 addressing how a right-wing extremist group known as the Proud Boys planned to march into D.C. with weapons.

“They think that they will have a large enough group to march into D.C. armed and will outnumber the police so they can’t be stopped,” a Secret Service email read.

“Their plan is to literally kill people,” the source wrote. “Please, please take this tip seriously and investigate further.”

On Jan. 5, 2021, the agency flagged a social media account reporting threats of an individual planning to bring a sniper rifle to a rally the next day.

“Calm before the storm,” one Secret Service agent texted another early that morning, according to evidence reviewed by the Jan. 6 committee.

The committee also showed never-before-seen footage of congressional leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dealing with the events of Jan. 6, including a call with Pence. 

“How are you? Oh my goodness, where are you? God Bless you,” Pelosi says to Pence in the video, reassuring him that he was “very safe.” 

“I worry about you being in that Capitol building,” Pelosi told Pence. “Don’t let anybody know where you are.”

Protesters were seen chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” during the riot. Pence was, according to reports, under pressure from Trump to help him overturn the election.

In another clip, Pelosi’s chief of staff, Terri McCullough, informed the speaker that the Secret Service had “dissuaded” Trump from coming to Capitol Hill. 

“I hope he comes,” Pelosi responds. “I want to punch him out. This is my moment. I’ve been waiting for this. For trespassing on the Capitol grounds. I want to punch him out, and I’m going to go to jail, and I’m going to be happy.”

Evidence in the Lead Up to January 6

The committee also revealed audio and video of Stephen Bannon, a close ally of Trump, admitting Trump would declare victory on election night regardless of actual results.

In other released footage, Trump has privately acknowledged election defeat, despite his public claims that he won the election. Video clips of Trump associate Roger Stone speaking with the Danish filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen about plans for election night were released as well. 

“I really do suspect it will still be up in the air,” Stone said. “When that happens, the key thing to do is to claim victory. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. No, we won, f*** you.”

In a different clip, Stone said: “F*** the voting, let’s get right to the violence. We’ll have to start smashing pumpkins, if you know what I mean.”

Stone invoked the 5th Amendment when asked by the panel in previous testimony about the violence during the Jan. 6 attack.

Trump’s Reaction

In a post on his social media website Truth Social, Trump asked why months had passed before he was asked to submit to questioning.

“Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting? Because the Committee is a total ‘BUST’ that has only served to further divide our Country which, by the way, is doing very badly – A laughing stock all over the World?” Trump posted. 

Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich released a statement accusing Democrats of “Doubling and tripling down on their partisan theatrics.”

“Today, 26 days before the Midterm Elections, America is truly a nation in decline. Inflation is out of control, the crime rate is at an all time high, and the crisis at our southern border has never been worse,” Budowich tweeted.

“However, instead of using their final days in power to make life for Americans any better, Democrats are doubling and tripling down on their partisan theatrics. Democrats have no solutions and they have no interest in leading our great nation,” he continued.

 “They are simply bitter, power hungry & desperate. Pres Trump will not be intimidate by their meritless rhetoric or un-American actions. Trump-endorsed candidates will sweep the Midterms, and America First leadership & solutions will be restored. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Despite the subpoena and newly revealed audio and video recordings, it remains unclear whether Trump will agree to a sit with the panel. 

For more information into the January 6th Capitol Riots, you can access another one of our stories here.