WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack has not yet subpoenaed any sitting members of Congress, but it has left the door open to do so.
One of the lawmakers who could receive one is Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
What You Need To Know
- Questions remain over how many times — and when — Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan spoke to President Trump on Jan. 6
- In an interview with Spectrum News in July, Jordan went viral for appearing to struggle to answer when he and Trump spoke that day
- The Jan. 6 Select Committee has not yet subpoenaed Jordan for information
- Jordan told Spectrum News in a new interview that he may not cooperate if the committee reaches out
For months, Jordan has not definitively answered how many times — and when — he spoke with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, when the U.S. Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters on the day Congress was scheduled to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.
Jordan is one of Trump’s closest allies on Capitol Hill and he was a leading voice in Congress challenging the certification.
In an interview with Spectrum News on July 28, Jordan appeared to struggle to answer how many times he interacted with Trump on Jan. 6.
Ohio's @Jim_Jordan confirms to me:
— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) July 28, 2021
“I spoke with [Trump] on Jan. 6th."
Before, during or after attack?
“I spoke with him that day, after? I think after. I don't know if I spoke with him in the morning or not. I just don't know...I don't know when those conversations happened.” pic.twitter.com/h4fbuMYtk0
“On Jan. 6, did you speak with him before, during, or after the Capitol was attacked?” he was asked by Spectrum News.
“I spoke with him that day, after? I think after,” Jordan said. “I don't know if I spoke with him in the morning or not. I just don't know. I’d have to go back and — I don't know when those conversations happened.”
The interview went viral on Twitter and has been viewed more than 2.6 million times.
In late August, Jordan told Politico that he spoke with Trump “more than once” on Jan. 6, and was “sure” one of the calls happened while Jordan was evacuated to a safe room with other lawmakers, though he said he couldn’t recall specific times.
Then on Oct. 20, Jordan gave another answer when asked again during a House Rules Committee hearing.
“From my memory, I talked to him after the attack happened and we were moved to the chamber,” Jordan said. “I may have talked to him before. I don’t know. But all I’m saying is I had nothing to do with any of this.”
New from @Jim_Jordan to Rules Committee.
— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) October 20, 2021
“From my memory, I talked to him after the attack happened and we were moved to the chamber. I may have talked to him before. I don’t know. But all I’m saying is I had nothing to do with any of this.”
From July ⤵️https://t.co/OceC5tVu95
Jordan’s range of answers could lead the Jan. 6th Select Committee that’s investigating the Capitol attack to subpoena the Ohio Republican.
In an interview with Spectrum News on Nov. 18, Jordan said his office has not received any requests. He wouldn’t commit to cooperating if it does.
Jordan was asked, if the committee does reach out and request anything, would he be open to providing it.
“Depends what it is,” Jordan said. “I mean, I'm not going to answer hypothetical questions, but I just think this is a complete sham, what these guys are doing.”
In a separate part of the interview, Jordan was asked if he checked exactly how many times he spoke with Trump that day and when.
“Nope,” Jordan said.
He was asked if the committee asks him to provide that information, would he be open to sharing phone records.
“Same response I gave you before,” Jordan said. “This is a total political committee.”
The select committee has, so far, issued more than three dozen subpoenas, including to Jordan’s close friend and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Jordan seems unfazed by it all and is focusing on his rising political celebrity.
On Tuesday, he’s releasing a new memoir, which Spectrum News reviewed an advance copy of.
In his interview last week, Jordan said he is pledging to continue fighting the Democrats’ agenda.
“Everyone's saying do whatever you can to stop the crazy, out of control policies from the Biden administration,” Jordan said.