New Bill Would Revoke J6 Subpoenas Against Trump Aides

A new measure that has been introduced by Republicans in the House of Representatives would revoke congressional subpoenas that had been issued against former top advisers to President Donald Trump.

Fox News reports that the resolution was introduced on Tuesday by Congressmen Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). The measure would rescind all subpoenas issued by the January 6th Committee, which was shut down when Republicans reclaimed a majority in the House after the 2022 midterm elections.

As a result, the resolution would also reverse all of the contempt of Congress charges that had been filed against each individual who defied the subpoenas, which includes former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and former Trade Adviser Peter Navarro.

“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,” said Congressman Burlison said on X. “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issued by the illegitimate Committee for Bannon, Navarro, Scavino, and Meadows were insufficient and should be rescinded, and the contempt of Congress referrals based on those subpoenas should be withdrawn.”

The controversial committee was arranged by then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). When then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) attempted to select the Republicans who would also be seated on the committee, Pelosi refused to allow Congressmen Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on the committee, at which point McCarthy withdraw all of his Republican choices. Pelosi then unilaterally appointed just two anti-Trump Republicans, Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) to the overwhelmingly Democrat-dominated committee. This led to widespread accusations of the committee being illegitimate and a political stunt rather than a valid congressional body.

Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the former chairman of the January 6 committee, issued a statement claiming that “thankfully, this resolution will have no impact.”

“The subpoenas issued by the Select Committee were litigated exhaustively, with contempt of Congress charges going as high as the Supreme Court,” Thompson continued. “Sadly, it’s just the latest attempt by House Republicans to subvert the rule of law and do Donald Trump’s bidding. Nothing will exonerate Trump from his actions on January 6 and nothing will change the fact that Bannon and Navarro are convicted criminals.”

Of the four former White House officials who were subpoenaed, Bannon and Navarro have since been convicted on charges of contempt of Congress, and each were sentenced to four months in prison. The Biden Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) ultimately declined to prosecute former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino.

The resolution introduced by the three congressmen currently has 22 co-sponsors.