The congressional committee investigating the Capitol riot that literally attempted to change the outcome of the last US presidential election has issued a subpoena ordering former President Donald Trump to testify before it. The most impressive part of the text reads: “You were at the center of the first and only effort by any President of the United States to overturn an election. You knew that this activity was illegal and unconstitutional.” Trump’s lawyer accused lawmakers on the committee of “ignoring the rules.”
The former president denounced the investigation as a ploy to distract voters from the “disaster” of Democratic governance ahead of next month’s US midterm elections. Trump could face criminal charges if he fails to comply with the subpoena — ie. to go to prison for a period of between 1 and 12 months. He has until November 4 to provide documents to the Commission about what happened on January 6, 2021, and is due to testify on or around November 14, the BBC said. If the former president refuses to testify before Congress or turn over the requested materials, the Commission could refer the matter to the Department of Justice – which could lead to criminal proceedings. The subpoena was issued just hours after former Trump strategist Steve Bannon was fined $6,500 and sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress.
Current US President Joe Biden said it would be “logical” for Donald Trump to comply with the subpoena and testify before the commission investigating the attack by his supporters on Congress last year. In his first comment on the subpoena, Biden said in an interview with MSNBC that he was “not going to express an opinion on what he (Trump) should do.” Asked if Trump should comply with the commission’s request, Biden said: “I think that would make sense. I think the commission did a very good job.” Meanwhile, word has come out that the FBI found classified documents about Iran and China at Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. At least one of them concerns Iran’s missile program, according to The Washington Post.
