The committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol has secured the closed-door testimony of former White House adviser Pat Cipollone, who has been under pressure to speak to the committee for some time. His recollections are expected to provide critical insight into Donald Trump’s efforts to leverage the Justice Department to sway the 2020 election. The panel will also host a televised hearing with Sarah Matthews, a former deputy press secretary who resigned after the Capitol attack. The date of her hearing has not been confirmed, but the next live public hearing will be held next week focusing on Mr Trump’s role in rallying the mob. Meanwhile, the Fulton County, Georgia grand jury investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory has issued subpoenas to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rudy Giuliani and several other lawyers who played role in Trump’s machinations. Mr Graham confirmed he would refuse to comply with the subpoena’s demands.
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Analysis: Why Sarah Matthews’ Upcoming Show Matters
Andrew Feinberg writes that for all the public who may not know who she is, Sarah Matthews – like Cassidy Hutchinson before her – is the embodiment of a certain kind of Washington insider who can prove extremely dangerous to a former boss. If you look at pictures of White House meetings, there’s always an outer ring of chairs occupied by the people who make up the decision makers—or managers—sitting around the table. People with titles like Special Assistant and Deputy Assistant and Assistant to this or that will often move between offices while making arrangements and relaying messages between the names of bold faces they serve. However, these managers often forget that young employees – often no older than their 20s – are in the room. The twentysomethings who keep Washington running are often invisible to all but a select few (usually journalists) who know how to pay attention. Read the full analysis below.
The problem Donald Trump didn’t see coming
Former staff members are often forgotten in White House meetings, something only a select few notice. Now these invisible twentysomethings are coming back to haunt the people they were hired to serve Andrew NaughtieJuly 6, 2022 5:30 p.m 1657123254
Beware of Cipollone
Kyle Cheney points out that it’s still unclear what Pat Cipollone has agreed to offer the January 6 committee – and the nature of what they’ve agreed to will largely determine what the public ultimately learns about what he’s telling them. Andrew Naughtie 6 July 2022 17:00 1657121454
Giuliani says Trump should have pardoned himself
Rudy Giuliani, who reportedly asked Donald Trump for a preemptive pardon after Jan. 6 and now faces various legal risks, speculated this morning that his former boss might have had an easier time today if he had pardoned himself before he left from power. . Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 16:30 1657119987
Pat Cipollone will testify in camera at the January 6 panel
After the Jan. 6 panel stepped up its public pressure to testify, former Trump White House adviser Pat Cipollone reportedly agreed to speak with the panel — albeit behind closed doors. His perspective on the days leading up to and including Jan. 6 itself will be critical because of his direct involvement in thwarting Mr. Trump’s effort to fully tool up the Justice Department. Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 16:06 1657119054
Lindsey Graham Defies Georgia’s Subpoena
Attorneys for Sen. Lindsey Graham say he will not comply with a subpoena issued to him as part of a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury investigation into former President Donald Trump’s push to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in the Peach State. In a statement provided to The Independent, attorneys Bart Daniel and Matt Austin say Fulton County investigators have told them Mr. Graham is “merely a witness” and “neither a subject nor a target of the investigation,” but have declined to oversee the investigation. by the Fulton County DA. Fanny Willis as “all politics.” The lawyers further accused Ms. Willis of running a “fishing spree” and “collaborating with the January 6 Commission in Washington.” “Any information from an interview or deposition with Senator Graham will be immediately shared with the January 6th Committee,” the attorneys said, though they offered no evidence to support their claims. Andrew Feinberg has the story. Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 15:50 1657117854
Russian TV speculates on Trump’s early return
Russian state TV propagandist Olga Skabieva has taken aim at former President Donald Trump, suggesting the Russian government may think twice about running any campaign to support him if he chooses to run for president in 2024. Skabeeva made the remarks during a recent edition of the political talk show 60 Minutes, according to an excerpt with English translations posted on Twitter by Russian media analyst Julia Davis. “The other day, Trump promised to destroy the Russian Federation, to destroy Putin’s hegemony, as he put it,” he said. Andrew Feinberg has more. Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 15:30 1657116056
Kinzinger pays tribute to Cassidy Hutchinson and other witnesses
Adam Kinzinger, who yesterday shared a shocking collection of abusive and threatening voicemails he received from his staff, is praising Cassidy Hutchinson and other Trump administration veterans who came forward to tell the Jan. 6 committee about what they saw during the former the president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Andrew NaughtieJuly 6, 2022 3:00 p.m 1657114256
Trump’s real estate company has been found in contempt by a New York court
In addition to his troubles on January 6, Donald Trump is still facing big trouble in the form of the New York Attorney General’s investigation into his business dealings. Now, a real estate company involved in the case has been found in contempt of court for failing to produce documents subpoenaed during the investigation. Cushman & Wakefield will now have to pay a fine of $10,000 a day until they comply with the request. In characteristic style, Mr Trump described the investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt and accused Attorney General Letitia James of being a “racist”. Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 14:30 1657112456
Report: House GOP prepares to kick out Jan. 6 committee after midterms
With Republicans almost certain to take control of the House after this year’s midterm elections, Axios reports that senior right-wing members of key committees are planning a full investigation of the committee’s Jan. 6 activities in an effort to discredit the already damning evidence unearthed. The website quoted a senior official as saying, “When Republicans regain the majority, we will exercise our oversight responsibilities, including subpoena power to review all transcripts and information accessed by the committee in order to uncover the truth.” Another GOP aide offered this ominous line: “The base is out for blood on the subpoenas. A lot will depend on how far McCarthy wants to go.” Andrew Naughtie 6 July 2022 14:00 1657110546
Joe Rogan claims to have rejected Trump multiple times
Controversial podcaster, serial skeptic and political wildcard Joe Rogan has stated that he has actually rejected Donald Trump as a possible guest several times. “I am not a Trump supporter in any way, shape or form,” Mr. Rogan said. “I had the opportunity to have him on my show more than once. I’ve said no, every time. I don’t want to help him. I’m not interested in helping him.” However, Mr. Rogan has introduced many conspiracy theorists, political extremists and science deniers, causing increasing outrage in the process. Andrew Naughtie6 July 2022 13:29
