1/6 Committee Weekly Digest

Country First presents the next edition of The Weekly Digest to highlight the important work of the January 6th Select Committee. Each week that the committee makes news, we’ll provide a recap on the its work to make sure you’re up to date.

In Case You Missed It: 

• Rep. Adam Kinzinger says McCarthy "resurrected" Trump’s political career.
• Politico outlines the five decisions the 1/6 Committee has to make before they finish their investigation.
• Rep. Thompson and Rep. Cheney release a statement on Mark Meadows' newest court filing.

Here are the major developments from this past week: 

2,319 Text Messages Between ark Meadows and Trump's Inner Circle Reveal Communication Before and After January 6th

Newly unearthed text messages between the former president’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, and Trump’s allies reveal the extent of communication between the election and January 6th. Nearly 2,320 messages have been released, with the names of White House staff, members of Congress, and others discussing plans to overturn the election and the events of January 6th. 

Many high profile members of Congress, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) have been named in the exclusive texts obtained by CNN. In the texts, conspiracy theories about election fraud, claims that ANTIFA was behind the insurrection, and strategies to install false electors to keep the former president in power show the echo chamber that was Mark Meadows's phone. The texts also show the panic of members as the attempted coup attempted to reach the House Chambers. 

Despite concerns over the former president's lack of response to the attack, members were quick to change their tune, pivoting to defending the inaction of the president. 

Freedom Caucus Members Plotted With the Former President to Maintain Power, 1/6 Committee Asserts

Lawmakers from the far-right Freedom Caucus, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), held plot-planning sessions with the former president to overturn the 2020 election results, according to court records filed by the 1/6 committee. Rep. Gaetz and Rep. Jordan, two staunch defenders of the former president were among many members that participated in calls and meetings with the former president. 

Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to the former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, provided testimony to the 1/6 Committee corroborating the court filing by the 1/6 Committee. According to Hutchinson, "They felt that [former Vice President Mike Pence] had the authority to — pardon me if my phrasing isn't correct on this, but — send votes back to the States or the electors back to the States." During the meetings, those involved assessed avenues to secure the electoral votes for the former president. 

Despite the Trump campaign’s continual attempts through lawsuits to overturn the election, judges across the country repeatedly struck down their claims. 

1/6 Committee Sets Sights on June for Public Hearings

The 1/6 Committee has plans for public hearings this summer before they plan to wrap up their investigation. According to the committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the special committee is looking at eight public hearings in the month of June before they wrap up their investigation in the fall. 

The 1/6 Committee, which previously planned to hold hearings in May, delayed the start date to hold more depositions. Inching closer to the Oval Office, the 1/6 Committee has conducted interviews with the former president’s children and closest allies. After a year of interviews, the 1/6 Committee has met with over 900 witnesses and received over 100,000 documents. 

The hearings are scheduled to start on June 9, 2022. 

Trump Lawyer Expected To Testify Before 1/6 Committee

Rudy Giuliani, the personal attorney to the former president and one of the central figures in trying to overturn the 2020 election, is expected to testify in front of the 1/6 Committee in the next month. The announcement came as a surprise to many that, after Giuliani’s legal battles continue to mount, the personal lawyer is willing to testify. 

Giuliani previously had concerns about attorney-client privilege being violated, but has since backed down. Sources close to the committee have said that they expect Giuliani to fully cooperate with the interview. 

Giuliani worked fervently to find legal avenues to fight the electoral count. Despite all avenues being shut down by judges in key swing states, Giuliani appeared at the 1/6 "Stop the Steal" rally held on the Ellipse of the White House. In his now infamous speech, the Trump loyalist shouted "Let’s have trial by combat" at the protestors before a mob marched on the Capitol and unleashed a deadly attack. 

New Audio Released Shows House GOP Leaders Real Concern Over January 6th Insurrection 

On January 10, 2021, Rep. Kevin McCarthy told House Republican Leadership that he had asked the former president whether he felt like he had some responsibility for the attempted coup of the U.S. Capitol. On that same call, the Minority Leader criticized members of his own party and said that no one should defend the former president’s inaction on January 6th.

Minority Leader McCarthy tried to deny the existence of those phone calls, until audio was released the following day. The leaked audio from the House Republican Leaders Call that followed the insurrection had top GOP leaders, including Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and now-ousted Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).

Since that call, Rep. McCarthy has downplayed and defended the actions of the former president and members of Congress close to the attack. 

Other news that may be of interest: 

• Multiple Staffers at the RNC have spoken with the 1/6 committee 
• Oath Keepers text messages show cooperation 
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene testifies in civil suit surrounding the insurrection