U.S. Rep Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has denied a request to testify before the House panel investigating January 6, citing the committee’s timing due to the upcoming May 24 U.S. Senate GOP primary election.
The North Alabama congressman’s actions leading up to and on January 6, 2021, have routinely been placed under the microscope by congressional Democrats.
Brooks was one of the defendants named in a lawsuit brought by U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who alleged that the congressman’s actions contributed to the Capitol Hill riot. Swalwell’s lawsuit was tossed by a federal court in early March, with the judge citing that Brooks’ speech at the Ellipse was protected by the First Amendment.
The Democrat-led lawsuit against Brooks was in addition to more than 30 ethics complaints filed against him by the opposing party.
In a statement released by his campaign Monday evening, Brooks noted that he had once offered to testify before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) “Witch Hunt Committee,” but will no longer voluntarily do so.
“At one time I would have voluntarily testified before the Nancy Pelosi Witch Hunt Committee provided the testimony was in public, the questioners were Congressmen, and the questions were limited to events related to January 6,” stated Brooks. “But that time has long passed. I wouldn’t help Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney cross the street–I’m definitely not going to help them and their partisan Witch Hunt Committee.”
With the committee asking Brooks to testify the week of May 9, the congressman advised that the House panel will need to subpoena him to compel a testimony.
He concluded, “I’ve already given numerous sworn affidavits and public statements about January 6. At this moment in time, right before an Alabama U.S. Senate election, if they want to talk, they’re gonna have to send me a subpoena, which I will fight.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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