Jan. 6 Panel May Try to Influence Pennsylvania Governor’s Race: Mastriano Attorney

Beth BreljeAugust 6, 2022

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, is scheduled to meet with the Jan. 6 Committee Aug. 9. It was to be a voluntary interview, but the committee is now demanding a compelled deposition.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano gives a victory speech at his election-night party at The Orchards in Chambersburg, Pa., on May 17, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“Your committee is not legally able to conduct compelled depositions, which is why all of my clients have all offered to participate in voluntary interviews,” Mastriano’s attorney, Timothy C. Parlatore, wrote in an Aug. 5 letter to the committee. “Senator Mastriano is happy to cooperate with your committee, as he has nothing to hide. I do have concerns that are particular to him, given the conduct of the committee up to this point.”

Parlatore believes the Jan. 6 Committee may try to influence Pennsylvania’s election.

“Given the committee’s demonstrated propensity for releasing edited clips of interviews without the requisite context to support a false partisan narrative, I am concerned that there is a risk that your committee will do the same to Senator Mastriano. Members of your party like Sean Patrick Maloney, Democratic Campaign Chair, have openly admitted that the goal of the hearings you are conducting is intended to paint the Republican Party as irresponsible and power hungry ahead of the midterms. For this reason, my client has legitimate concerns that your committee may attempt to influence the outcome of the Pennsylvania state elections through the dissemination of disinformation,” the letter said.

A spokesperson for the Jan. 6 Committee did not respond to a request for comment.

Parlatore’s letter indicates that he is willing to allow the meeting if he can make his own recording of the interview that could be released if the committee releases edited