Rescinding the subpoenas issued by the January 6th Select Committee on September 23, 2021, October 6, 2021, and February 9, 2022, and withdrawing the recommendations finding Stephen K. Bannon, Mark Randall Meadows, Daniel Scavino, Jr., and Peter K. Navarro in contempt of Congress.
H. Res. 15, introduced in the 119th Congress, would effectively reverse the actions of the January 6 Select Committee by rescinding the subpoenas it issued to Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Daniel Scavino Jr., and Peter Navarro on September 23, 2021; October 6, 2021; and February 9, 2022. It also withdraws and ends the House’s previous contempt of Congress findings against these individuals (Bannon, Meadows, Navarro, and Scavino) as reflected in prior resolutions. The resolution asserts that the Select Committee was illegitimate and had predetermined conclusions, and it directs the Speaker to notify the Department of Justice that the subpoenas are rescinded and effectively null and void. As a House resolution, this is a political statement and directive; it does not, by itself, become law or compel DOJ action without further action by Congress and the President.
Key Points
- 1Rescission of subpoenas: The bill cancels the subpoenas issued on Sept. 23, 2021; Oct. 6, 2021; and Feb. 9, 2022, directed at Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Daniel Scavino Jr., and Peter Navarro.
- 2Withdrawal of contempt recommendations: It withdraws the House resolutions that recommended contempt of Congress for these individuals (Bannon, Meadows, Navarro, Scavino) dating from Oct. 2021 through Apr. 2022.
- 3Condemnation of the Select Committee: The resolution states the Select Committee was illegitimate and its conclusions were predetermined due to partisan reasons.
- 4DOJ notification: It directs the Speaker to inform the Department of Justice that the subpoenas are rescinded and should be considered null and void, under sections 192 and 194 of title 2, United States Code.
- 5Committee procedural critique: The text outlines numerous procedural criticisms of the Select Committee’s formation and operations (e.g., alleged lack of proper membership, consultation with the ranking minority member, and preservation of documents).