"Will Hear Trump's Testimony" US House 1/6 Committee Unanimously Decides to Summon

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot has made a sudden decision to subpoena former President Donald Trump.

According to the Washington Post (WP) and Politico, the January 6 Capitol Riot Investigation Committee unanimously voted at the end of the hearing held on the 13th (local time) to subpoena former President Trump and hear his testimony directly.

Benny Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the committee, stated, "This is a matter of accountability to the American people," adding, "He must be held responsible. We want to hear his answers." Although it is rare in U.S. history for former and current presidents to be subpoenaed for hearings, it is not unprecedented. Republican Vice Chair Liz Cheney also said that former President Trump is at the center of the January 6 incident, "We have an obligation to hear directly from the person who made all of this happen."

The House Select Committee is conducting public hearings on the Capitol riot carried out by far-right supporters of former President Trump who protested the 2020 election results last January. This hearing was the last public hearing before the midterm elections in November.

At this session, evidence suggesting former President Trump's deep involvement in the Capitol riot was revealed, attracting attention. This included plans to declare victory early, indications that former President Trump tried to block President Joe Biden's election after losing the presidential race, and evidence that internal security personnel had expressed concerns about the January 6 rally in advance.

New footage was also released showing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urgently requesting help from nearby Virginia and Maryland governors, and Republican leaders including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking the acting Attorney General for assistance. Additionally, there was a revelation that just days after losing re-election, Trump secretly ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Somalia, throwing military leaders into a panic. The committee argued this was evidence that he knew he had lost and that his term was ending.

Former President Trump immediately opposed the subpoena. Through the social networking service Truth Social, he said, "Why didn't they ask me to testify earlier? Why did they wait until the last moment of the final meeting?" and added, "The committee is completely broken and is only further dividing the country."

WP reported, "While some former and current presidents have testified before Congress in the past, former President Trump is likely to resist testifying, leading to a lengthy process," adding, "In this case, the committee's plan to release a report within the year will be disrupted."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.