Applying for records is the first step in the committee’s investigation process and can indicate the direction they plan to go when they call witnesses.
It is unclear what means the committee will use to force telecommunications companies to cooperate with its request. The committee has a power of summons, but soliciting information, especially from members of Congress, could lead to a long legal battle.
The committee decided not to make public the names of the legislators to whom the records were addressed, three sources told CNN. But several sources familiar with the committee’s work have confirmed to CNN at least part of the list, including many of the members of Congress included in the request.
According to sources, this group was targeted because the committee concluded that each of these lawmakers played some role in the “Stop the Steal” rally. They attended, talked, actively planned, or encouraged people to attend.
The list is said to be evolving and could be added as the investigation speeds up. It now includes Republican representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Paul Gosar also of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina , Matt Gaetz of Florida, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Jody Hice of Georgia and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
In addition to its connection to the rally, this group also represents some of Trump’s most loyal former supporters in Congress, many of whom continue to address Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. Many of these members also voted for to oppose the election results on the day of the insurrection.
A spokesman for the select committee declined to comment on lawmakers and members of Trump’s family included in the list of record-keeping requests.
Mississippi Democrat committee chairman Bennie Thompson previously said publicly that the committee would request the telephone records of “several hundred” people. In addition to members of Congress, CNN has learned that the committee will also ask that records be kept of the former president, as well as his daughter Ivanka, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as his daughter. the law Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is the girlfriend of Trump Jr. and who worked in the campaign.
While asking for these people’s phone records may not come as a surprise, there is one notable name that is not expected to be included in this group of applications. Sources say the name of the house’s minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, was not included. McCarthy spoke remarkably with the former president during the full revolt. The content of this call is expected to be of great interest to the committee. Thompson has not ruled out repeatedly calling McCarthy to testify before the committee if this is where he is leading the investigation. This does not mean that the committee never requests their records, but only chooses not to do so at this stage of the investigation.
CNN has contacted members of Congress on the list to get a response, but Republicans have already reacted negatively to the prospect of the committee requesting this information. Representative Jim Banks, whom McCarthy originally chose to be a member of the committee’s ranking, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped aside, sent a letter to Thompson on Friday warning him not to take that step. .
“Reviewing the call records of your colleagues would leave more than 230 years of Congressional oversight,” the Indiana Republican wrote. “This type of authoritarian company has no place in the House of Representatives and the information you are looking for has no conceivable legislative purpose.”
Jordan, who is among the records requested by the committee, warned last week that there would be political retribution.
“I have nothing to hide,” he said, but added that “if they cross that line,” Republicans will continue to ask questions about their fellow Democrats.