Status: 11/23/2021 9:04 a.m.
The committee of inquiry into the storming of the US Capitol has invited five other supporters of ex-US President Trump. Among them is the adviser Stone, convicted of his role in the Russia affair.
The U.S. commission of inquiry into the storming of the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 has issued further subpoenas to allies of former President Donald Trump. The congressional committee summoned five companions, including political advisor Roger Stone and ultra-right radio host Alex Jones.
Through the hearings, the committee wanted to find out who “organized, planned and paid for” the attack on the seat of Congress and what communication there was between the organizers of the attack and White House staff and members of Congress, said committee chairman Bennie Thompson.
Radical Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, when Biden’s election victory was to be certified there. Five people were killed in the unrest that day in Washington.
Trump pardoned Stone
Political advisor Stone was sentenced to more than three years in prison in 2020 in connection with the special investigator Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia, among other things for false statements and obstruction of the judiciary. Trump pardoned him shortly before the end of his term in office.
The presenter Jones is an advocate of conspiracy theories. He also endorsed Trump’s false claim that his election defeat by Biden was due to massive fraud. Jones is said to have attended the march on the Capitol himself.
Bannon did not appear on the committee
The U-Committee had already summoned a number of Trump’s companions. Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon, for example, defied the subpoena. A so-called grand jury therefore brought charges against Bannon for obstructing Congress. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to two years.
Trump’s former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, also refused to appear before the committee. He is also threatened with criminal action because of this.