Jan. 6 committee wants phone records of Trump, family members, and close GOP allies preserved
The House Select Committee on Jan. 6 plans to ask several telecommunications companies to save the phone records of Donald Trump, his family members, and about a dozen of his GOP congressional allies who were connected in some way with the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally that took place before rioters breached the Capitol.
The congressional members who made the list either spoke at the rally, helped plan it, or promoted attendance, according to CNN. Though the committee did not make the list of congressional members public, CNN confirmed the following members were included: Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Jody Hice of Georgia, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
One person not among those confirmed is House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose communications with Trump on the day of the siege have already become a focal point of coverage surrounding the attack. But the panel could ask for McCarthy’s records in a later request.
Along with Trump’s records, the panel also plans to ask the companies to preserve the communications of an inner circle of his family members including Ivanka, Don Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Eric Trump and his wife Lara.
Exactly how the panel intends to compel companies to participate in the investigation remains to be seen. Although the committee does have subpoena power, using it could result in a drawn-out legal battle.
In its initial records requests, the panel already asked for internal documents and communications from the Trump White House, including those of Trump’s closest aides and family members. The panel also requested a broad array of information from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Interior and Justice, and the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.