House Republicans Denounce 'Political Ploy' of Trump Subpoena
(Newsmax/"Spicer & Co.")
By Eric Mack | Thursday, 13 October 2022 08:24 PM EDT
The Jan. 6 House select committee's unanimous vote to subpoena former President Donald Trump was blasted by House GOP members Thursday.
"Today's subpoena of President Donald J. Trump less than one month from the midterm elections is a desperate political ploy by Democrats and their mainstream media stenographer allies," House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York wrote in a statement, The Hill reported.
"The American people are smart and the Democrats' abuse of power will only energize the American people to fire Nancy Pelosi once and for all and deliver a red tsunami that will elect a historic Republican majority to hold Joe Biden accountable."
Trump's former White House doctor, Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, tweeted his rebuke.
"The January 6th Committee is out of control!" he wrote on Twitter. "Subpoenaing President Trump is a disgrace! They want to destroy Trump and every one of his supporters! They'll stop at nothing. We must beat them in November!!"
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., tweeted the committee was "illegitimate" and a "political hatchet committee."
"The illegitimate January 6 Committee's vote to subpoena President Trump is a political hatchet job read by a political hatchet committee," Biggs wrote on Twitter. "This committee is illegitimately formed, in violation of House rules, and is organized to search and destroy perceived political enemies."
Trump called out the timing of the subpoena, noting the "unselect committee" only subpoenaed him at the end because it was a "bust."
"Why didn't the Unselect Committee ask me to testify months ago?" Trump wrote in his rebuke on Truth Social. "Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting? 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?"
Save America PAC spokesman Taylor Budowich on Twitter accused panel members of "partisan theatrics" and said "Trump will not be intimidated by their meritless rhetoric or un-American actions."
Thursday's session was serving as a closing argument for Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who have essentially been shunned by Trump and their party and will not be returning in the new Congress. Cheney lost her primary election, and Kinzinger decided not to run.
Under committee rules, the Jan. 6 panel is to produce a report of its findings, likely in December. The committee will dissolve 30 days after publication of that report, and with the new Congress in January.
House Republicans are expected to drop the Jan. 6 probe and turn to other investigations if they win control after midterm elections, primarily focusing on President Joe Biden, his family and his administration.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.