Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows and Co .: Capitol Assault Committee summons four Trump confidants

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Attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021

Photo: John Minchillo / AP

The committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol has summoned four confidants of former US President Donald Trump.

According to the protection chairman Bennie G. Thompson, this is

• former Trump adviser Steve Bannon

• the then Chief of Staff of the White House, Mark Meadows

• Trump's social media boss Dan Scavino

• and a former Defense Department official.

All four were asked to appear in mid-October, Thompson said.

A Meadows representative said he declined to comment.

Bannon and Scavino have not yet commented on the subpoenas.

Patel said he was disappointed but not surprised that the committee issued a subpoena instead of asking for his volunteer work.

Why the four men are summoned

The committee alleges that all four men tried in different ways to prevent the confirmation of the election of Joe Biden as US president or to have information about such attempts.

They are said to have been in contact with Trump before or on January 6 and allegedly have relevant information about the history of the attack.

This should now be investigated.

The men are also asked to produce certain documents.

The aim is to clear up "the facts, circumstances and causes" of the Capitol attack.

Supporters of Trump stormed the seat of the US Congress in Washington on January 6th.

They broke through police lines in droves and entered the Capitol while the senators and MPs were in the process of formally confirming Biden's November victory.

Five people were killed in the Capitol storm, including a police officer.

Trump had to face impeachment proceedings for the attack because he had previously incited his supporters in a speech.

However, at the end of the trial, the Republican was acquitted.

The committee in the US House of Representatives is to investigate the background to the attack on the Capitol.

The establishment of the investigative body was already the subject of fierce party political disputes.

aar / dpa