Trump has to testify

## January 6 committee issues subpoena for Trump to testify

oct. 13, 2022, bbc -  trump has to testify -Repräs.Haus-Ausschuss zum Kapitol-Sturm lädt Trump vor. Donald Trump soll unter Eid vor dem Untersuchungsausschuss zur Erstürmung des US-Kapitols aussagen. Folgt der Ex-Präsident der Vorladung nicht, droht ihm neuer juristischer Ärger.

By Anthony Zurcher & Max Matza, BBC News, Washington. cit: *The US congressional committee investigating last year's Capitol riot has issued a legal summons for former President Donald Trump to testify.*

"*He is required to answer for his actions," said Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat.*

*If Mr Trump does not comply with the summons, known as a subpoena, he could face criminal charges and imprisonment.*

*The select committee is looking into Trump supporters' storming of Congress on 6 January 2021.*
The panel's seven Democrats and two Republicans voted 9-0 in favour on Thursday of issuing the subpoena for the former Republican president to provide documents and testimony under oath in connection with the Capitol riot.
Representative Liz Cheney, the committee's vice-chairwoman and a Wyoming Republican, said: "We are obligated to seek answers directly from the man who set this all in motion. And every American is entitled to those answers."

*The surprise move came during the investigation's ninth and possibly final public hearing for the investigation into last year's raid on Congress.*
At Thursday's session the committee said it would focus on Mr Trump's "state of mind" as he refused to admit defeat to Joe Biden in the presidential election of November 2020.

*Mr Trump - who has lambasted the inquiry as a ruse designed to distract US voters from the "disaster" of Democratic governance - is widely expected to refuse to testify and fight the subpoena.*
His former political strategist, Steve Bannon, also flouted a similar legal summons from the select committee to testify, and he was found guilty in July of criminal contempt of Congress.

*On Thursday, Mr Trump questioned on his Truth Social platform why the committee had not asked him months ago to testify.*
"Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting?" he posted. "Because the Committee is a total 'BUST' that has only served to further divide our Country which, by the way, is doing very badly - A laughing stock all over the World?"

## Kommentar in der NYT

**A subpoena for Donald Trump**

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol voted unanimously to subpoena Donald Trump to question him about his role in the day’s events. The vote came after the committee presented a sweeping summation of its case against him, including more details about his state of mind and his central role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election.

The panel showed how Trump had repeatedly sought to join the crowd at the Capitol, even after his supporters had turned violent and were attacking the police. “He is required to answer for his actions,” said Representative Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the committee. “He is required to answer to those police officers who put their lives and bodies on the line to defend our democracy.”

The committee also presented evidence that Tom Fitton, an informal Trump adviser, had counseled the president days before the election to declare victory strictly on the basis of votes cast on Election Day, effectively asserting that lawfully cast early and absentee ballots should not count.

Next steps: It is still unlikely that the committee will have the chance to question Trump. He would be all but certain to defy any subpoena, and attempts to enforce one would almost certainly lead to a protracted legal battle.