WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) spoke to Raw Story on Thursday about information the Washington Post reported this week about the lawyers paid for by Donald Trump to represent those who were called before the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on Congress.
Among the things the Justice Department was asking for was information about the legal representation that witnesses have used and what those lawyers have advised.
"One part of the four-page legal document asks recipients to reveal if anyone other than themselves is paying for legal representation — and if so, to provide a copy of the retention agreement for that legal work," said the Post. "At least one other former campaign official also received the subpoena, according to that person’s lawyer, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid drawing attention to his client."
What was uncovered by the Jan. 6 committee is that at least one witness was encouraged to mislead the committee.
"As we heard testimony about some of the counsel involved were encouraging witnesses to withhold information from the committee as if they were doing this as part of a joint defense committee or joint representation paid for by interests hostile to the truth coming out then that was a concern for the committee," said Schiff.
Cassidy Hutchinson made it clear to the committee that the lawyer she was initially using was telling her not to "recall" things that she did recall. The early conversations with Hutchinson are available on the Jan. 6 website where transcripts show the lawyer at the time cutting her off and taking issue with some questions.
“She was advised to say that she didn’t recall something when she did. So that’s pretty serious stuff," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) last year.
The lawyer, Stefan Passantino, denies all of the accusations.
"There were a lot of witnesses who had a very convenient failure of recollection consistent with what Cassidy Hutchinson's lawyer recommended," said Schiff. "If counsel are telling witnesses to say they don't recall things that they do, that doesn't come close to the line, that crosses the line."
