The Archive

THE INVESTIGATION

News: Jan. 6 committee will not cooperate with DOJ

The Jan. 6 select committee has no plans to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The panel’s decision, confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the talks, comes as the DOJ has significantly accelerated its own Jan. 6 investigation into Trump and his inner circle, issuing about 40 subpoenas and seizing phones from two top aides.

The Jan. 6 panel’s decision not to cooperate comes after a months-long request from the Justice Department for transcripts from the roughly 1,000 interviews conducted by the select committee. It’s also a huge about-face for the select committee, which until recently had been telegraphing plans to share at least some of its evidence with DOJ officials.

Two sources told us the decision is not to cooperate with DOJ “at this time,” although this could change in the future depending on certain factors, including if the scope of federal officials’ request changes.

One of the main concerns for the select committee’s members is what would happen to the panel’s transcripts if they were turned over to DOJ. If the Justice Department were to seek an indictment based on evidence provided by the panel, that person would then have access to this material ahead of trial. Another source said handing over transcripts to DOJ could potentially delay pending trials as defendants request time to review the new evidence.

In July, the panel was preparing 20 witness transcripts to share with the Justice Department. But Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the panel’s chairman, told reporters Tuesday night that the committee had yet to share anything with federal investigators.

“Yes, we have information. We have just not engaged Justice at this point,” Thompson said. “We have not, to my knowledge, shared any information with DOJ.”

The panel is planning to release a final report on its findings after the election. That report will likely include many of the transcripts, although committee members have discussed using pseudonyms for certain witnesses.

Select committee members are also considering releasing a “summary of findings” sometime in October.

And Thompson said the panel hasn’t decided to go ahead with a hearing on Sept. 28 but is considering it. We first reported this possibility last week.

“We’re in the process of discussing whether or not we’ll be able to produce a hearing on [Sept.] 28th,” Thompson said.

Committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey declined to comment.

The Coverage

– Heather Caygle and John Bresnahan

HAPPENING TODAY

Apple CEO Tim Cook to meet with the Problem Solvers

Apple CEO Tim Cook will be on Capitol Hill again today to meet with the Problem Solvers Caucus, the bipartisan group of House lawmakers.

Cook met Wednesday with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and a group of House Republicans. These GOP lawmakers raised their concerns with Cook about alleged censorship of conservatives by Big Tech companies.

Washington has been teeming with CEOs since this week is the Business Roundtable’s meeting in D.C.

– Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan

SIT-DOWN

What newly elected Democrat Pat Ryan told us

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) won a heavily contested special election in New York last month on the back of a wave of pro-abortion rights enthusiasm from Democrats. So when Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a national 15-week abortion ban bill on the same day Ryan was sworn in to the House, the New York Democrat couldn’t quite believe the coincidence.

“To answer Kansas, NY-19 and Alaska with a proposed ban, a nationwide ban, it’s both scary personally and also, I think, an absolutely clueless, clueless decision,” Ryan told us in an interview while sitting in his still-undecorated new office in the Longworth Building. Ryan was referring to several recent victories by pro-abortion rights lawmakers and advocates.

Ryan became a mini-rising Democratic star in August when the Ulster County executive pulled off an upset in the special election to fill former Rep. Antonio Delgado’s (D-N.Y.) seat. Ryan defeated Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro by relentlessly messaging on abortion rights and painting Republicans as extremists.

It’s a message that Ryan shared with his new Democratic colleagues during his first caucus meeting Wednesday morning. Here’s Ryan recounting his advice:

Democrats were buoyed by Ryan and Rep. Mary Peltola’s (D-Alaska) twin special election victories in August. Both candidates honed in on on abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Ryan says he will maintain his focus on abortion rights during his November election in New York’s new 18th District.

“My message, and I think the party’s message, going into November is going to be we have to up our level of fight even more in the face of what we think could come, given what [Republicans] telegraphed,” Ryan said.

— Max Cohen

CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN’S SOFTBALL GAME

Team Congress beats Team Press on walk-off walk

Team Congress won the Congressional Women’s Softball game Wednesday night thanks to a dramatic walk-off walk. With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th inning and the bases loaded, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) drew a walk from Team Press pitcher Amy Walter to help seal the victory.

It was a rare win for the women lawmakers over the members of the press corps. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) told us in a post-game, on-field interview that the game’s cause of raising funds and awareness for young breast cancer survivors made the win “All the more meaningful.”

Klobuchar, a breast cancer survivor who served as an announcer for the game, also credited the Congress team with winning against the odds.

“It’s just so fun because it is so much harder for the members because they have a smaller pool,” Klobuchar said.

Punchbowl News was proud to be a sponsor of the annual charity game, which supports the Young Survival Coalition.

— Max Cohen

THE CAMPAIGN

“Here in New Hampshire, we keep the government out of our homes — and out of our doctor’s offices,” the ad’s narrator says. “But Karoline Leavitt? If she gets to Congress, she’ll pass a nationwide abortion ban.”

Leavitt is fresh off a GOP primary victory over Matt Mowers, the favorite of the House GOP leadership. Pappas’ focus on abortion rights mirrors the messaging of Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and other New Hampshire Democrats who feel the issue will resonate in the Live Free or Die State.

“If Karoline Leavitt gets her way, it won’t be a women’s choice. It’ll be the government’s choice,” the narrator says to close the ad.

“Jennifer-Ruth Green is too extreme,” the ad’s narrator says. “Green opposed abortion, even for victims of rape and incest.”

Mrvan represents Indiana’s 1st District, which is classified a “Democratic Toss-Up” by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.

Several recent polls had shown Walker with a slight lead. A Quinnipiac poll in late June had Warnock up by 10 points.

— Max Cohen and Jake Sherman

MOMENTS

8:30 a.m.: President Joe Biden will get his daily briefing.

10 a.m.: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) is hosting Luis Abinader, president of the Dominican Republic, in H-137 at the Capitol.

10:10 a.m.: Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at the United We Stand Summit.

12:15 p.m.: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will discuss reproductive rights.

1:15 p.m.: Karine Jean-Pierre will brief.

1:45 p.m.: Harris will host a meeting with Caribbean leaders including Suriname President Chan Santokhi; Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados; President Irfaan Ali of Guyana; Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago; and President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic.

3:30 p.m.: Biden will speak at the United We Stand Summit at the White House.

7:50 p.m.: Biden will leave the White House for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the Congressional Caucus Institute Gala. He will speak at 8:25 p.m.

9:05 p.m.: Biden will arrive back at the White House.

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