GOP Rep. Scott Perry Turns Down Jan 6th Select Committee ‘Requests’ For Interview

The House Select Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection on January 6th requested an interview and documents from Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), marking the first time the Committee has publicly sought to interview a sitting member of Congress. Perry announced late on Tuesday that he won’t cooperate, which now leaves the question open as to whether or not the Committee will take the steps to subpoena the Trump loyalist and member of the newly formed House Freedom Caucus.

This latest request launches a new phase for the lawmakers on the committee, who have until now resisted questioning active members as they investigate the insurrection by Donald Trump’s supporters and his efforts to overturn the election. With Perry’s refusal to meet with the Committee, it remains to be seen whom they may try to interview next.

The Committee sought to ask Perry about his participation with other congressional Republicans who met with Trump at the Willard Hotel in the days before the attack and strategized about how they could block the Electoral College results.

The Committee has requested that Rep. Scott Perry provide information for the committee’s investigation.

In a letter to Perry, Chair @BennieGThompson detailed info tying Perry to events surrounding 1/6, including efforts to install Jeffrey Clark as acting Attorney General. pic.twitter.com/IXwG5b1rez

— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) December 20, 2021

In his letter to Perry, Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), said the panel had received “evidence from multiple witnesses”, including the then-acting attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, and then-acting deputy attorney general, Richard Donoghue, that Perry had “an important role” in efforts to install Department of Justice (DOJ) official Jeffrey Clark as acting Attorney General.

GOP Rep. Scott Perry says he won’t cooperate with Jan. 6 committee’s request to seek information from him, raising the question of whether the House panel will subpoena a sitting lawmaker and take additional action if he refuses to comply

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 21, 2021

Perry, who has continuously disputed the validity of Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, said he fulfilled Trump’s request for an introduction to Clark, then an assistant attorney general whom Perry knew from unrelated legislative matters. The three men went on to discuss their shared concerns about the election, Perry has said.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was written with traitors like Scott Perry in mind. Hopefully there isn't a dusty DOJ memo from 1971 that trumps (pun intended) the Constitution. https://t.co/cdEUhpN72V

— Greg Olear (@gregolear) December 21, 2021

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In his letter to Perry, Rep. Thompson mentioned that the panel “has tremendous respect for the prerogatives of Congress and the privacy of its members. At the same time, we have a solemn responsibility to investigate fully all of these facts and circumstances.” The panel has already taken action against Steve Bannon and Mark Meadows, both of whom have been found in Contempt of Congress. Bannon will stand trial in July for his charges, while no announcement has been made regarding Meadows from the DOJ.

We all know Greene and Boebert but do you know Rep. Scott Perry? He's the Republican House member from PA, incoming Freedom Caucus chair, and also a *key figure in the 1/6 insurrection*.

I bring receipts in my #minirant on Perry – please do watch/share:pic.twitter.com/ozXdiEIRns

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) December 16, 2021