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Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump at a press conference in April 2020
Photo: Yuri Gripas / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
The committee of inquiry into the storming of the US Capitol a year ago wants to question the Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. The MP spoke directly to then President Donald Trump during the attack, the panel said in a letter to McCarthy on Wednesday. In addition, he had had close contact with Mark Meadows' chief of staff in the days before. McCarthy could also provide insights into Trump's mood and plans after the attack.
The House Committee did not summon McCarthy, but asked him to volunteer to cooperate.
The Republican is considered a loyal follower of Trump - but immediately after the attack, he was also one of the few in his own camp who openly criticized him.
McCarthy said he had also called Trump during the forcible storming of the Capitol and asked him to convince his supporters to turn back.
The committee is also investigating whether Trump proposed to McCarthy what to say publicly and to investigators about their talks on the day of the attack, the letter said.
The panel had previously asked another Trump ally in Congress, US MP Jim Jordan, to disclose his January 6, 2021 talks with Trump.
Jordan said Sunday he would not cooperate with the committee's investigation, calling it illegal.
According to the chairman of the special committee, Bennie Thompson, the panel is now examining whether it is authorized to summon Republican members of Congress to force them to cooperate.
Trump supporters had stormed the seat of the US Congress in Washington to prevent the confirmation of the election victory of the Democrat Joe Biden.
The attack on January 6 last year killed five people and injured dozen.
The attack on the heart of US democracy rocked the country.
Trump does not admit his electoral defeat to this day.
cop / dpa / Reuters