Former United States President Donald Trump reportedly "loves the idea of testifying" before the House Select Committee over its investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, said a source close to the Republican businessman.
The source noted that if the former president complied with the subpoena and testified in front of the panel, he would talk about how corrupt the 2020 election was, as well as the committee, and how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a mistake prior to the chaotic incident, which was not calling up the National Guard that Trump strongly recommended three days prior to the riot.
Trump Testimony
At this point, the source noted that it remains unclear whether or not Trump will actually testify before the committee, but emphasized that the former president is enticed by the idea of it. The committee, which is made up of seven Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans, on Thursday voted to compel the former president to testify about his conduct leading up to and during the Capitol Hill riot, as per Fox News.
On that same day, Trump had an exclusive interview where he slammed the committee and its investigation as a "witch hunt." The former president went on to say that the committee is a "hoax" and a "sham."
Trump also said that the two Republicans who were part of the committee were thrown out of the Republican Party. He described one as not wanting to run because he could not win while saying that the other lost by a record number of more than 40 points.
According to the Washington Post, the likely final public hearing of the House Select Committee is expected to highlight brand new records from the Secret Service that showed how Trump was repeatedly alerted to brewing violence on the day of the riot yet he still sought to stoke the conflict instead of calming his supporters.
Subpoena Against Trump
The panel plans to share new video footage on Thursday as well as internal Secret Service emails that appear to corroborate parts of the most startling inside accounts of that day. The situation comes as, in June, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that the former president was briefed on Jan. 6 that some of his supporters were armed for battle, demanding they be allowed into his rally.
The surveillance footage that the panel plans to share during the hearing was taken near the Ellipse on the morning of the riot just before Trump's speech. It shows throngs of his supporters clustered right outside the corralled area for his "Stop the Steal" rally.
Secret Service officers were seen screening the people entering who sought to get closer to the stage. Also, law enforcement officials who were monitoring video footage that morning observed Trump supporters with plastic shields, bulletproof vests, and other paramilitary gear.
The situation also comes as the House committee voted unanimously to subpoena Trump, a move that could lead to criminal charges if the former president does not comply. The chairman of the panel, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, said that the Republican businessman should be held accountable and must answer for his actions, Reuters reported.
Related Article:
