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Many of the Republicans in the House have attempted to undermine the bipartisan House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection that took place last January 6. Following the recent development of the panel requesting to preserve phone records of certain lawmakers, a former federal prosecutor blasted the threats made by Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Former federal prosecutor Ken White, who now serves as criminal defense, white-collar crime, and First Amendment litigation attorney, criticized the threats made by Greene regarding the panel’s request to obtain phone records of several Republicans in Congress in relation to the Capitol insurrection. Greene, who is also known for her peddling of conspiracy theories, threatened the telecom companies that they would be shut down if they comply with the subpoenas.
To note, Greene is reportedly included in the list of individuals whose phone records are being sought by the committee. Other lawmakers include GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, Lauren Boebert, Andy Biggs, Jody Hice, Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry, and Madison Cawthorn along with members of Donald Trump’s family. The committee has not formally revealed whose records are being sought after.
“Once again: if Congress is making demands for documents illegally, or privacy rights are being violated, you can sue to stop it. Saying ‘do it and we’ll retaliate with punitive legislation’ is pure corrupt thuggery,” tweeted White.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also made similar threats to the telecommunication companies following the reports. McCarthy threatened that the companies would be punished should they comply with the subpoenas if the Republicans take back the majority in the House in 2022.
The attempts made by the Republicans in the House as of late have resulted in a lot of backlash towards them. Former White House communications director for George W. Bush and now MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace said that the Republicans are resorting to threats to try and undermine the probe into the Capitol insurrection.
“Checkmated by Speaker Pelosi on the formation of a select committee to investigate the January 6th insurrection, Kevin McCarthy is now going the ‘Goodfellas’ route of brazen intimidation to block investigators from obtaining the phone records of Republicans who now make no effort to hide the fact that they have something to hide,” said Wallace, who also fact-checked McCarthy’s claim that companies who comply with such subpoenas are violating federal law.
