Donald Trump celebrated after news broke that the January 6 committee had withdrawn its subpoena for testimony by the former President.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the panel’s chairman, suggested that they would no longer need to compel documents and statements from Trump because they have concluded their work.
“In light of the imminent end of our investigation, the Select Committee can no longer pursue the specific information covered by the subpoena,” Thompson wrote in a letter to the 2024 presidential candidate’s lawyers.
“Therefore, through this letter, I hereby formally withdraw the subpoena issued to former President Trump, and notify you that he is no longer obligated to comply or produce records in response to said subpoena,” the letter continued.
The letter came after the committee had held its final meeting last week.
1/ BREAKING! After my firm filed suit on separation of powers grounds to block January 6 House Select Committee’s illegitimate subpoena to President Trump over his activities while president— the committee waved the white flag & withdrew subpoena. We were confident of victory/ pic.twitter.com/7ElOXljpt1
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 29, 2022
RELATED: Trump Slams ‘Laughing Stock’ January 6 Committee as They Unanimously Vote to Subpoena Him
January 6 Committee Withdraws Trump Subpoena
News of the January 6 committee withdrawing the Trump subpoena has to be devastating to those who thought it might lead to contempt charges and prison time for the former president.
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One self-described “historian” said the vote to subpoena Trump was essentially the same thing as signing the Declaration of Independence.
We’re not kidding …
Vote is unanimous. Cheney demands a recorded vote. (Good for her!!!) So there will be a list. (This is like signing the Declaration of Independence.) #HATH
— Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) (@HC_Richardson) October 13, 2022
CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen argued that the subpoena “ups (Trump’s) criminal exposure.”
Joy Reid and a guest were practically giddy at the notion that the former President would not comply, eventually resulting in “criminal charges to force him to testify.”
Now, all of that is out the window, with a quiet Wednesday evening withdrawal as the January 6 committee limps toward a new GOP-led House intent on investigating the panel’s own actions.
.@BarbMcQuade on Trump and the coming #Jan6 subpoena: “If he is in contempt it will be up to the Justice Department to decide whether to bring criminal charges to force him to testify…” #TheReidOut pic.twitter.com/0LnE2Jr8Eo
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) October 19, 2022
RELATED: Liz Cheney Boasts, They Won’t Allow Trump To Turn Jan. 6 Testimony Into a ‘Circus’
Trump Celebrates Victory Over ‘Political Thugs’
Thompson himself stated the subpoena of Trump was less about the theatrics and more about “accountability to the American people.”
Is accountability no longer a concern, Mr. Thomspon? Or was there never any real intent on having him testify?
As you might imagine, Trump had a field day with the news.
“Was just advised that the Unselect Committee of political Thugs has withdrawn the Subpoena of me concerning the January 6th protest …” he wrote on his Truth Social media platform.
“They probably did so because they knew I did nothing wrong, or they were about to lose in Court,” Trump opined. “Perhaps the FBI’s involvement in RIGGING the Election played into their decision. In any event, the Subpoena is DEAD!”
Attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who represents Trump, surmised that the January 6 committee had “waved the white flag [and] withdrew (the) subpoena.”
“We were confident of victory in court, given precedent [and] refusal of prior presidents to testify in Congress,” she added. “J6 committee wasted millions for a purely political witch-hunt, total abuse of process [and] power serving no legitimate legislative purpose.”
2/in court, given precedent & refusal of prior presidents to testify in Congress.J6 committee wasted millions for a purely political witch-hunt, total abuse of process & power serving no legitimate legislative purpose. Kudos to my outstanding @dhillonlaw colleagues for the win!
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 29, 2022
Previous reports suggested Trump would be willing to testify before the January 6 committee so long as they aired his testimony live.
w/reporting from @maggieNYT that Trump, in response to the subpoena, has told aides he wants to testify so long as he gets to do it live…https://t.co/pXKrS45iLJ
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) October 13, 2022
It’s a shame that such a circus is no longer a possibility.
Earlier this month, the highly partisan committee made a criminal referral to the Department of Justice recommending they charge Trump with four crimes, including inciting or assisting an insurrection.
