Washington — Rudolph W. Giuliani, who led efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 elections as President Donald J. Trump’s personal lawyer, has long been with the House of Representatives investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. I sat down on Friday for an interview. According to people familiar with private interviews.
People said the de facto Giuliani interview lasted more than seven hours. The interview was transcribed and he swore.He took a break along the way and hosted him 1 hour afternoon radio show..
It was unclear what Giuliani had told the Commission, but his centrality in various attempts to overturn Mr. Trump’s elections allowed him to interact with members of the House of Representatives and others involved in the plan. Knowing the details of the action, he has become a potentially vital witness to the panel.
Giuliani, whose interview was reported Previously by CNNWas negotiating with the panel about testimony For several monthsAnd he agreed to talk with Mr. Trump and talk about issues other than other topics he believed to be covered by lawyer / client privileges.
Earlier this month he suddenly Get out of the scheduled interview With the committee after the panel refused to let him record the session. He later withdrew the objection and agreed to testify after the panel threatened to use the “execution option.” This has been implied in the Justice Ministry for criminal insults in Congress.
The Commission interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and recommended criminal insults for contempt of Congress against four of Mr. Trump’s closest allies who refused to cooperate fully.
Giuliani was one of the last major witnesses the Commission urged to interview in the last few weeks before the Commission began hearings in June. Others include more than six Republicans, including minority leader Kevin McCarthy of California.
The Commission is pushing to overturn the 2020 elections and still makes a final decision on whether to call former Vice President Mike Pence or Virginia Thomas, a right-wing activist who is the wife of Judge Clarence Thomas. I have not. The panel’s chairman, Mississippi Democratic Party Rep. Benny Thompson, recently showed that the Commission could eventually summon none of the three.
Giuliani is a key figure in Mr. Trump’s attempt to stop the defeat of voters and was involved in a plan to disrupt the normal work of the Electoral College by persuading the disputed Swing State lawmakers. bottom. Create an alternative slate for voters It shows that Mr. Trump has won in the state where Joseph R. Biden Jr. actually won.
Giuliani was also instrumental in reviewing plans to use the Department of Homeland Security. Seize the voting machine Then look for evidence of suspected fraud and the data stored in them. At Trump’s direction, Giuliani asked the Department of Homeland Security’s chief executive officer if the department could legally manage the machine. Giuliani later opposed the more explosive proposal to have the military seize the machine.
Giuliani was summoned With other members of the legal team It called itself the “Elite Strike Force,” filed a series of proceedings on behalf of Mr. Trump, promulgated conspiracy theories, and alleged unfounded fraud in elections.
The Commission’s subpoena includes pressure campaigns targeting state authorities by Giuliani and other Trump allies, seizure of voting machines, contact with members of the House of Representatives, evidence in support of his conspiracy theories, and any arrangements. Requested all documents detailed. For his fee.
On January 6, before a Trump-supporting mob attacked the Capitol, Giuliani spoke to a crowd of Trump-supporters, calling:Combat trial.. Then, after the building was besieged, both he and Mr. Trump called lawmakers to delay the proof of Mr. Biden’s victory.
