Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Trump Jr. advisers, ex-White House official
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The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot announced its latest batch of subpoenas Tuesday evening, this time focusing on two advisers to Donald Trump Jr. and a former White House official.
Why it matters: The panel said the three individuals subpoenaed — Andy Surabian, Arthur Schwartz and Ross Worthington, are believed to have been involved in the planning and preparations for the rally that former President Trump attended prior to the riot — an allegation strongly rejected by Surabian's attorney.
The big picture: Committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in a statement the panel has reason to believe the three subpoenaed individuals have relevant information "and we expect them to join the more than 340 individuals who have spoken with the Select Committee."
- Surabian and Schwartz, both advisers to Donald Trump Jr., are believed to have communicated with a host of people about the rally, including the president's elder son and Kimberly Guilfoyle, according to the panel.
- The committee said Worthington was a White House official who helped draft Trump's speech for the rally in which the former president repeated false claims about the election and encouraged supporters to march to the Capitol.
What they're saying: Daniel Bean, lawyer to Surabian, said in a statement that "while we plan on cooperating with the Committee within reason, we are bewildered as to why Mr. Surabian is being subpoenaed in the first place."
- "He had nothing at all to do with the events that took place at the Capitol that day, zero involvement in organizing the rally that preceded it and was off the payroll of the Trump campaign as of Nov. 15, 2020," Bean added.
- "[W]e believe this is nothing more than harassment of the Committee’s political opponents and is un-American to the core."
What to watch: All three were asked to submit requested documents by Jan. 24. Schwartz has been asked to appear before the committee on Jan. 31, followed by Surabian on Feb. 1 and Worthington on Feb. 2.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information about Surabian's strong denial.
