January 6 panel chair says Trump ‘broke the faith’ of US elections in final session
The House committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol will release its final report today, outlining why it has recommended Donald Trump and others face criminal charges over the insurrection.
Ahead of the release, the panel released a trove of transcripts from 34 Trump supporters and allies – including Roger Stone, Alex Jones, and the leaders of far-right groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers – who pleaded the Fifth during all or at least part of their interviews.
The full report had been slated for release on Wednesday but was delayed until Thursday due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise visit to Washington DC.
As news spread that Mr Zelensky was heading to the US, Donald Trump Jr came under fire on Twitter for branding the Ukrainian leader an “international welfare queen”.
Meanwhile, as well as the January 6 report, Mr Trump’s tax returns were also released after the House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday to publish six years’ worth of records. It emerged that the Internal Revenue Service failed to audit Mr Trump during his first two years in the White House.
Informant warned FBI of likely Jan 6 violence
The new revelation comes in the form of an email from an FBI informant obtained by the news outlet. According to NBC, the confidential FBI source remains one that the bureau uses to stay informed on the far right in America, and in the weeks leading up to January 6 was actively sending hundreds of pages of reports to the agency.
In those reports, the informant warned that there was a “big” possibility of violence breaking out in Washington DC as Congress met to certify the election, according to NBC.
Oliver O’Connell22 December 2022 13:40
Trump tax returns put IRS presidential audits under spotlight
An IRS policy governing the audits of tax returns filed by U.S. presidents is under new scrutiny after a report published by a congressional panel found the agency failed to perform the mandatory inspection of Donald Trump‘s returns until Congress pressed for information about the process.
Oliver O’Connell22 December 2022 13:20
Journey band members in feud over Trump performances
Two founding members of the band Journey are in a legal dispute after the keyboardist performed at Donald Trump’s estate.
The band’s guitarist, Neal Schon, has sent a cease and desist letter to his bandmate Jonathan Cane, who performed their songs at America First Policy Institute’s Experience and Gala at Mar-A-Lago last month.
Megan Graye reports for The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell22 December 2022 13:00
Alex Jones broke rank around evoking Fifth by launching into rant about Schiff
On Wednesday, the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol released a trove of interview transcripts from several Donald Trump supporters and allies, showcasing their rampant refusal to cooperate with the probe.
But while Alex Jones largely followed the pattern of his right-wing allies in pleading the Fifth, the far-right extremist and Sandy Hook shooting denier broke rank at one point to launch into an outburst about Rep Adam Schiff.
When the Infowars host was asked if he was going to continue pleading the Fifth Amendment, he fired back with the false claim that he was doing it because “Adam Schiff forges documents”.
Mr Jones’ lawyer Norm Pattis tried to silence his client to no avail.
“I don’t trust Congressman Schiff. He’ll forge documents…. I want to tell you guys everything, but I don’t trust Congressman Schiff,” the conspiracy theorist complained.
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 12:40
Roger Stone pleaded Fifth to all Jan 6 committee questions including question about his age
The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol released interview transcripts from several Donald Trump supporters and allies on Wednesday, including longtime Mr Trump ally Roger Stone.
Mr Stone – who was previously convicted of lying to Congress – pleaded the Fifth Amendment for every single question he was asked during his interview with the panel, the transcript shows.
He even refused to answer basic questions such as where he lives, how old he is and whether he understand his right to invoke the Fifth.
During the 51-minute interview, he was asked about a group chat on encrypted messaging app Signal about January 6 which he was in along with Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes. Mr Rhodes has now been convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 12:20
Jan 6 committee releases testimony transcripts from 34 Trump supporters
The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol has released a trove of interview transcripts from several Donald Trump supporters and allies.
On Wednesday, the panel published testimony from 34 witnesses who had been called to testify as part of the months-long investigation into the violent insurrection that culminated in five deaths and left dozens of law enforcement officers injured.
All 34 of the witnesses pleaded the Fifth during all or at least part of their interviews with the House panel.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Oliver O’Connell22 December 2022 12:00
The 34 interview transcripts released by the January 6 committee:
On Wednesday, the House select committee released transcripts from 34 interviews gathered during its investigation into January 6.
These are the 34 witnesses:
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 11:40
Jan 6 committee releases transcripts from 34 Trump supporters who pleaded the Fifth
The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol has released a trove of interview transcripts from several Donald Trump supporters and allies.
On Wednesday, the panel published testimony from 34 witnesses who had been called to testify as part of the months-long investigation into the violent insurrection that culminated in five deaths and left dozens of law enforcement officers injured.
All 34 of the witnesses pleaded the Fifth during all or at least part of their interviews with the House panel.
Among them was Roger Stone, right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and the leaders of far-right groups the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.
The transcripts are the first of hundreds of interviews gathered throughout the months-long investigation to be released to the public, coming ahead of the release of the full report on Thursday.
The report had been slated for release on Wednesday but was delayed a day due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise visit to Washington DC.
The panel held its final public hearing earlier this week, where it announced it was making criminal referrals to the DOJ.
Among the referrals, the committee said that Donald Trump should potentially face four criminal charges for his alleged role in the insurrection.
The report will detail the reasons behind the recommendations.
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 11:20
Jan 6 committee report to be released today
The final report from the House select committee’s investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol will be released today.
The report had been slated for release on Wednesday but was delayed by a day due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise visit to Washington DC.
The panel held its final public hearing earlier this week, where it announced it was making criminal referrals to the DOJ.
Among the referrals, the committee said that Donald Trump should potentially face four criminal charges for his alleged role in the insurrection.
The report will detail the reasons behind the recommendations.
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 11:00
Donald Trump Jr and MTG under fire for ‘dumbest remarks ever’ about Zelensky’s US visit
Donald Trump Jr and Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene have come under fire for making the “dumbest remarks ever” about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise trip to the US.
The Ukrainian leader visited Washington DC on Wednesday, to meet President Joe Biden and give an in-person address to Congress.
Mr Trump Jr took to Twitter to complain about Republican support for the Ukrainian defence effort and about Mr Zelensky, who he branded an “international welfare queen”.
Read the full story here:
Rachel Sharp22 December 2022 10:40
