House Republicans accuse Liz Cheney of Jan. 6 witness tampering and seek FBI investigation – Washington Examiner
House Republicans have accused former Representative Liz Cheney of witness tampering related to the investigation of the January 6 Capitol riot. The claims come from a report by the house Management Oversight Subcommittee, which suggests that Cheney improperly communicated with Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide, without the knowledge of Hutchinson’s attorney. The report recommends that the FBI investigate potential violations of federal laws, specifically citing statutes against witness tampering and procuring false testimony.
According to the findings, Cheney’s actions were seen as possibly obstructing the legislative process, thus not protected under the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. The report also raises questions about Hutchinson’s credibility, especially concerning her controversial testimony about former President Trump. Further allegations suggest that Cheney may have encouraged Hutchinson to revise her testimony, raising concerns about collusion and missing evidence in the ongoing investigation.
House Republicans accuse Liz Cheney of Jan. 6 witness tampering and seek FBI investigation
The House Administration Oversight Subcommittee, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), accused former Rep. Liz Cheney in a scathing report Tuesday of engaging in witness tampering during the Democrat-led investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The subcommittee’s findings, first detailed in October, claim the former vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 select committee improperly communicated with Cassidy Hutchinson, an ex-aide to then-chief of staff Mark Meadows under the Trump administration. The report recommends the FBI investigate whether Cheney violated federal laws against secret communications with Hutchinson and whether she engaged in “procuring another person to commit perjury.”
‘Tampered with at least one witness’
“Evidence uncovered by the Subcommittee revealed that former Congresswoman Liz Cheney tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge,” says the 127-page report.
The report specifically points to 18 U.S.C. § 1512, a federal statute that prohibits tampering with witnesses and carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison. It asserts that Cheney’s actions “fall outside the due functioning of the legislative process” and, therefore, are not protected under the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. The report further accuses Cheney of procuring false testimony — a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1622.
Cheney accused of violating at least two federal laws
“Based on the evidence obtained by this Subcommittee, numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney … and these violations should be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the report states.
The report also casts doubt on Hutchinson’s credibility, suggesting her testimony about then-President Donald Trump’s alleged attempt to seize control of his presidential limousine was refuted by Secret Service officials.
Further, it says Cheney encouraged Hutchinson to revise her testimony using an errata sheet, where significant changes were made, including details that contradicted other evidence.
Collusion claims and missing evidence
The interim report reveals broader concerns about the handling of the Jan. 6 investigation. Loudermilk’s subcommittee alleges there is evidence of “collusion” between Special Counsel Jack Smith and the now-defunct Jan. 6 committee. It highlights the release of an unredacted witness transcript in Smith’s filings for a Trump-related case, raising questions about how the document was obtained.
The report further criticizes the select committee’s failure to preserve over a terabyte of investigative data, including video recordings of witness interviews.
It also revisits findings that then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had acknowledged shortcomings in Capitol security and that Department of Defense officials delayed National Guard deployment despite Trump’s standing orders, citing unaired footage as part of an HBO documentary being produced by her daughter.
In a letter accompanying the report, Loudermilk urged his House colleagues to confront the actions of the previous committee and restore public trust.
“Transparency, accountability, and equal application of the law are the only solutions to return our nation to one that is free, safe, and full of opportunity,” Loudermilk said.
Trump ups calls for Jan. 6 committee prosecutions amid Biden’s preemptive pardon rumors
The report comes as Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office and has upped the rhetoric about investigating and prosecuting those involved on the former Jan. 6 committee.
“I think those people committed a major crime, and [Liz] Cheney was behind it,” he said of the Jan. 6 committee on NBC News’s Meet The Press earlier this month. “And so was Benny Thompson. Everybody on that committee. … For what they did, yeah, honestly, they should go to jail.”
Cheney told NBC News on Sunday, two days before the Oversight Subcommittee’s interim report, that Trump’s suggestion that lawmakers who investigated the events following his 2020 election defeat is a “continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating over whether some former members of the committee, such as Thompson or Cheney, could be in the running for a preemptive pardon by President Joe Biden, though there have been no clear indicators for such plans at this time. Also, on Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Biden should “very seriously” consider preemptive pardons for former Jan. 6 committee members.
Last week, Thompson said it is “his prerogative” when asked whether he wants a preemptive pardon from Biden, but said he would welcome it if it happened.
“If he offers it, to me or other members of the committee, I think it, I would accept it, but it’s his choice,” he said.
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