Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) responded to a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by sharing a list of demands and criticizing the investigation.
The congressman said he wants access to all documents and other materials the committee planned to use for his deposition that mention him. He also demanded an explanation of the legal authority behind the subpoena.
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“You have not explained the Constitutional basis for the extraordinary claim that a congressional committee may compel the testimony of other Members of Congress,” Jordan said in the letter, which he shared on Twitter.
Jordan was subpoenaed along with four other Republican House members, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, earlier this month to share information about their alleged involvement with the Capitol riot after they initially refused.
“The Select Committee has learned that several of our colleagues have information relevant to our investigation into the attack on January 6th and the events leading up to it,” Chairman Bennie Thompson said in a statement. “Before we hold our hearings next month, we wished to provide members the opportunity to discuss these matters with the committee voluntarily. Regrettably, the individuals receiving subpoenas today have refused and we’re forced to take this step to help ensure the committee uncovers facts concerning January 6th. We urge our colleagues to comply with the law, do their patriotic duty, and cooperate with our investigation as hundreds of other witnesses have done.”
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Jordan, an ally of former President Donald Trump, was asked in December to cooperate. The congressman said in January he would not comply with the interview request, calling it an “unprecedented and inappropriate demand” at the time. He claimed in the new letter that the panel never addressed concerns he raised back then.
“Rather than engaging in good faith about the serious issues I raised on January 9, you abandoned the matter for 123 days, only to abruptly reengage two weeks ago with a sudden and drastic escalation,” Jordan said.
