Former Trump White House aides told the House Committee investigating Jan. 6 that six House Republicans sought pardons from Donald Trump after the Capitol riot.
The committee has previously said some lawmakers asked for pardons to insulate them against future prosecution for their role in the riot. The committee’s vice-chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) previously named Rep. Scott Perry (Pa.) as one of the “multiple” lawmakers who asked for a pardon.
Perry attempted to install former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark as acting attorney general who would then throw the full weight of the United States Justice Department behind Trump’s false claims of voter fraud.
During Thursday’s hearing the committee played closed-door testimony from former Trump aides who identified the other lawmakers. According to aides they were: Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Mo Brooks (Ala.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Andy Biggs (Ariz) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.)
“The general tone was, ‘We may get prosecuted because we were defensive of the president’s positions on these things,'” former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann said.
Former special assistant to the president, Cassidy Hutchinson said Gaetz and Brooks wanted blanket pardons for everyone involved in a December meeting where they planned for Jan. 6.
“Mr Gaetz was personally pushing for a pardon and was doing so since early December,” Hutchinson said.
She also said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) talked about congressional pardons but did not ask for one for himself.
“The only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you committed a crime,” committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said.
