Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, among others
Savannah BehrmannWASHINGTON – The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a batch of new subpoenas for several far right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
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“The Select Committee is seeking information from individuals and organizations reportedly involved with planning the attack, with the violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6th, or with efforts to overturn the results of the election," Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in a statement. "We believe the individuals and organizations we subpoenaed today have relevant information about how violence erupted at the Capitol and the preparation leading up to this violent attack."
"The Select Committee is moving swiftly to uncover the facts of what happened on that day and we expect every witness to comply with the law and cooperate so we can get answers to the American people,” he continued.
The Proud Boys are a far-right group with a history of violent confrontations. They were catapulted to the national spotlight when Trump dodged a chance to condemn them during the 2020 election.
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The Jan. 6 committee wrote the group "called for violence leading up to January 6th, and at least 34 individuals affiliated with the Proud Boys have been indicted by the Department of Justice in relation to the January 6th attack on the Capitol."
"Many individuals associated with the Proud Boys repeatedly spread the former President’s unsupported claim that the 2020 election was stolen and suggested the use of force against police officers and government officials," the committee wrote.
The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes and described themselves at the time as a politically incorrect men’s club for “Western chauvinists."
In 2018, the FBI categorized the Proud Boys as an extremist group with ties to white nationalism. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates the group has 43 chapters in 29 states.
The select committee announced they also were subpoenaing national chairman Henry Tarrio, who goes by Enrique and self-identifies as Afro-Cuban.
"Though Mr. Tarrio was prevented from entering Washington, D.C., on January 6th, he was allegedly involved in the Proud Boys’ preparation for the events at the Capitol," the committee said.
The committee announced they would also be seeking to hear from members of the Oath Keepers, a far-right paramilitary and anti-government group.
Members of the Oath Keepers have engaged in high-profile armed standoffs against the federal government. Several other members face conspiracy charges in the insurrection on Jan. 6.
"Individuals associated with the Oath Keepers organization were similarly involved in planning and participating in the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6th," the committee wrote. They said members that have been indicted allegedly planned "a coordinated attack to storm the Capitol, including by traveling to Washington, D.C., with paramilitary gear and supplies."
The committee also said they wished to hear from Elmer Stewart Rhodes, leader of the extremist group.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleged in March that Rhodes was outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and helped coordinate members’ attack on the building, advising which entrances were most vulnerable and what weapons to bring.
Prosecutors: Oath Keepers leader stood outside Capitol on Jan. 6 as members stormed inside
The committee said preceding the attack, Rhodes "repeatedly suggested the Oath Keepers should engage in violence to ensure their preferred election outcome." They also noted his involvement during the attack, and his contact with "several of the indicted Oath Keepers members" including "meeting some of them outside the Capitol."
The committee announced they are also seeking testimony from the 1st Amendment Praetorian, a far-right group, and its founder, Robert Patrick Lewis.
The group promotes itself as providing security for conservative rallies and marches.
According to a profile by the Daily Beast, Lewis is a believer in the QAnon conspiracy theories. He also served as a U.S. Army staff Sergeant and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
The committee noted their prior security work at rallies leading up to January 6th and said "On January 4th, the 1st Amendment Praetorian Twitter account suggested that violence was imminent."
Lewis, per the committee, "was listed as a speaker on the permit for the January 5th rally on Freedom Plaza. On January 6th, Mr. Lewis tweeted: 'Today is the day that true battles begin.' The day after, Mr. Lewis claimed that he was involved in 'war-gaming' to continue efforts to overturn the election results."
The subpoenas demand documents by Dec. 7, and depositions soon after that.
Contributing: Joel Shannon