May 13, 2022 3 min read Politics

Jan. 6 Committee Subpoenas Republican Lawmakers while Governors Ask DOJ to Halt Protests at Justices' Homes

In a significant escalation, the House committee subpoenas five Republicans, including Minority Leader McCarthy, while Maryland and Virginia governors ask DOJ to stop Roe v. Wade protests.

The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Thursday announced that it subpoenaed five Republican members of Congress, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy after they refused to cooperate with the panel’s inquiry, reports The Washington Post.

Jan. 6 panel subpoenas 5 House Republicans, including minority leader (The Washington Post)

Excerpt from The Washington Post: The move marks a significant escalation in the committee’s efforts to obtain information related to lawmakers' communications with President Donald Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows before, during and after the attack. All five of the Republican lawmakers subpoenaed Thursday have declined to voluntarily provide information to the committee. In a statement, [Rep. Bennie G.] Thompson said the 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."

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Axios reports that the Jan. 6 committee's decision to issue five major subpoenas is likely to open a Pandora's box of retaliation. The GOP was already plotting revenge, and now the minority feels more emboldened than ever, Republican lawmakers tell Axios. Prepare for committee removals, retaliatory subpoenas and even impeachments should the midterms go as polls — and history — predict.

Jan. 6 committee opens a Pandora’s box of retaliation (Axios)

Excerpt from Axios: "My view on the committee has not changed," McCarthy told reporters. "They’re not conducting a legitimate investigation. It seems as though they just want to go after their political opponents," the House minority leader added. The members of the Jan. 6 panel feel they had no choice but to issue subpoenas for McCarthy, Jordan (R-Ohio), the current Judiciary ranking member, and Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), given they know things no one else does.

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In a related story, fallout from the leak of a draft opinion suggesting the high court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade has resulted in hundreds of people protesting outside Supreme Court justice's homes in Maryland and Virginia.

Therefore, the Republican governors of Virginia and Maryland kept up their calls for federal action against abortion rights protests at the homes of Supreme Court justices, noting their relevant state laws are “weak” if not unconstitutional, according to The Washington Post.

Youngkin, Hogan ask Justice Dept. to halt protests at justices’ homes (The Washington Post)

Excerpt from The Washington Post: "We have moments where common sense needs to prevail. And common sense here fully dictates that the ability to, in fact, demonstrate and express your views is protected under the First Amendment," Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told reporters after a public appearance in Richmond. "It’s just not appropriate nor is it legal to do it at the residence of justices." Youngkin and Hogan on Wednesday urged U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to enforce a federal law that forbids demonstrations intended to sway judges on pending cases.

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