Jan. 6 committee subpoenas fake Trump electors in 7 states, including Wisconsin
WASHINGTON (WISC/AP) — The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection has subpoenaed more than a dozen individuals which it says falsely tried to declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 election.
The panel is demanding information and testimony from the 14 people who the panel says met and submitted false Electoral College certificates from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. President Joe Biden won all seven states.
In a news release, committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Andrew Hitt and Kelly Ruh, who were listed as the chairperson and secretary of Wisconsin’s group of alternate electors, were among those being subpoenaed. Both have been subpoenaed to appear for depositions on Feb. 28 and to submit documents by Feb. 11.
“The Select Committee is seeking information about attempts in multiple states to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives,” Thompson said in the release. “We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme. We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committee’s investigation to get answers about January 6th for the American people and help ensure nothing like that day ever happens again.”
The U.S. Department of Justice has also received referrals from lawmakers regarding the fake certifications and prosecutors are reviewing them. Last week, Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the Republican electors from Wisconsin.
On Twitter Friday afternoon, Pocan wrote he is glad the committee “is taking the issue of fraudulent electors seriously and I look forward to the DOJ continuing its investigation.”
“This should have never happened and should never happen again,” he continued.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
