WASHINGTON — Pat Cipollone, a former Trump White House counsel, appeared before the House Jan. 6, committee. He sat for seven hours answering questions.
Cipollone was the panel vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and joined the committee around 8:45 AM for a closed-door videotaped interview. ET and left just before 5:45 p.m. ET. He also took several breaks with his lawyers throughout the day. He was there for seven-and-a half hours.
A source familiar with his testimony earlier Friday said that he was a co-witness witness, within the limits of his desire to preserve executive privilege for his office of general counsel.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren was a member on the Jan. 6 committee and said that it was a “grueling day” for everyone involved but it was worth it. According to the California Democrat, Cipollone answered a variety of questions and did not contradict other witnesses’ testimony.
Lofgren stated that “I believe we learned a few things,” and will continue to do so in the hearings.
After hearing bombshell testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson (a former top aide of then-President Donald Trump’s chief staff Mark Meadows), the panel subpoenaed Cipollone. It was after Hutchinson’s testimony that detailed how the lawyer tried to restrain Trump in the days before it.
Hutchinson claimed that Cipollone approached Hutchinson on Jan. 3, 2021 after hearing Meadows’ suggestion of going to Capitol on Jan. 6, and she told her that “This would be illegally a terrible idea.”
Hutchinson stated that the warning was more dire on Jan. 6th. “Mr. Cipollone stated something like, “Please make sure that we don’t go to the Capitol, Cassidy. Keep in touch with us. She testified that she was going to be charged with every crime possible if this movement is made.
Hutchinson said that she also heard Cipollone plead for Meadows’ help during the riot. She said that Cipollone told Meadows, “something to the effect that people are going to death and the blood’s on your effing hands.” This is out of control.
Cipollone, who was defending Trump in his impeachment trial, had previously met with investigators from the committee in April for an informal interview. However, Cheney repeatedly asked for a formal sit-down.
Last week, Cheney and the committee chair Rep. Bennie Thomson, D-Miss. made a joint statement announcing the subpoena. They stated that the panel’s investigation had “revealed evidence that Mr. Cipollone repeatedly raised concerns legal and other about President Trump’s actions” in a joint statement. “While the select panel appreciates Mr. Cipollone’s earlier informal engagement in our investigation, it needs to hear from the committee on the record, just as former White House counsels did in other congressional investigations. The need to hear his testimony overshadows any concerns Mr. Cipollone may have about the institutional prerogatives that he held previously.
Thompson stated that the subpoena was being sent to Cipollone in a letter. He said that the committee was investigating Trump’s involvement in activities to subvert the outcome the 2020 election. This included the submission of fake ballots to Congress and executive branches, the attempted appointment Jeffrey Clark as acting attorney General, and attempts to interfere with the congressional certification of the electoral results of January 6, 2021. He stated that Cipollone had information about “these and other issues” after their investigation.
Cipollone didn’t respond to reporters’ questions Friday at the deposition room.
Friday also saw Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers leader, tell NBC News that he wants his client to testify before this committee a second-time, but only if certain conditions have been met.
Rhodes was taken into custody pending his trial on seditious conspiracy charges and other charges in connection to the Jan. 6 Riot. He will testify under oath but only in a live setting, with his lawyers present, because he is concerned that his words may be taken outof context, attorney James Lee Bright stated.
It is not clear what additional information Rhodes might or could provide. Rhodes appeared in February for a virtual deposition from jail. He invoked his Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination 20-30 times.
