House Republicans are pushing a new bill that seeks to stop Democrats from using congressional subpoenas to attack allies of President Donald Trump.
The new House GOP-led effort aims to revoke subpoenas that the Democrats’ anti-Trump House select committee on Jan. 6 sent to key aides of the 45th president.
On Tuesday, Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Eric Burlison (R-MO) introduced the resolution.
It would rescind subpoenas that the now-defunct Jan. 6 committee sent to Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Peter Navarro, and Dan Scavino.
It would also withdraw the contempt of Congress resolutions filed against each individual over his defiance of those subpoenas.
In a post on X, Burlison said:
“The Committee was used as a political weapon with a singular focus on taking down Trump and his advisors through the intentional manipulation of facts and the silencing of the minority party.
“The subpoenas issued by the illegitimate Committee for Bannon, Navarro, Scavino, and Meadows were insufficient and should be rescinded, and the contempt of Congress referrals based on those subpoenas should be withdrawn.”
Today, @RepThomasMassie, @RepAndyBiggsAZ and I introduced a resolution to rescind the subpoenas issued by the illegitimate J6 Committee for Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, and Peter Navarro and withdraw the recommendations finding them in contempt of Congress.
🧵⬇️
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) June 18, 2024
The subpoenas issued by the illegitimate Committee for Bannon, Navarro, Scavino, and Meadows were insufficient and should be rescinded, and the contempt of Congress referrals based on those subpoenas should be withdrawn.
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) June 18, 2024
Massie wrote on the platform:
“Time is of the essence.
“Speaker Johnson should immediately bring this resolution to the floor for a vote!”
🧵 (1/2) Here’s our 5 page Resolution to rescind the subpoena’s issued for Bannon and Navarro and to declare the January 6th committee to have been illegitimate. pic.twitter.com/eM122OZpzy
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 18, 2024
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the former chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have not yet commented on the resolution.
As of Wednesday, the GOP legislation has 22 additional co-sponsors beyond the three lawmakers supporting it.
Thank you to cosponsors @RepAndyBiggsAZ, @RepThomasMassie, @RepChipRoy, @RepOgles, @Rep_Clyde, @RepGosar, @RepBobGood, @RepHarshbarger, @RepBoebert, @RepBrecheen, @RepClayHiggins, @RepMaryMiller, @RepBarryMoore, @RepLuna, @RepEliCrane, @RepMTG, @RepJimBanks, @RepCloudTX,…
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) June 18, 2024
Bannon, Trump’s former strategic adviser, and Navarro, his former trade adviser, were both sentenced to four months in prison in cases stemming from their contempt referrals by Congress.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) did not prosecute Meadows or Scavino.
Pelosi established the select committee in mid-2021 in response to the Jan. 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol.
An initial vote to create a 9/11-style commission to investigate the riot passed the House, with 35 Republicans and all Democrats, but died in the Senate.
The House subsequently voted to create a select committee – with just two GOP votes – which granted Pelosi full power of appointments in “consultation” with Republicans.
GOP critics of the panel have used that fight as evidence of the committee being a partisan exercise, including Pelosi’s rejection of two Trump-allied Republicans who were nominated by then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
One of those allies, Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), is one of the co-sponsors of Burlison’s resolution.
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