This archive report was first published on 22 December 2021.
January 6 Committee Faces Resistance from Trump Allies ¶
Representative Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican and incoming chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, has refused to meet with the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Perry, who was closely involved in Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election, called the committee 'illegitimate' and declined to cooperate with its request for testimony and documents.
On Monday, the committee sent a letter to Perry seeking his testimony and documents related to the buildup to January 6, including his communications with Trump and his legal team.
Representative Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the panel, has pledged to take steps to obtain the information if necessary, including issuing subpoenas for sitting members of Congress.
Thompson said that Perry has information directly relevant to the investigation and that the committee prefers to gather evidence cooperatively, but will consider using other tools if members decline to cooperate.
More than 300 witnesses have met with investigators, but there have been consequences for those who refuse to cooperate, including the House voting twice to hold allies of Trump in criminal contempt of Congress.
Some key witnesses have invoked their right against self-incrimination to avoid answering questions, while others have sued to block the release of records.
The committee has also faced resistance from Fox News anchors who texted Trump's former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, during the January 6 riot, urging him to persuade Trump to make an effort to stop it.
