“The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has begun to solicit testimony from the rioters, issuing requests for some defendants to voluntarily provide an account of their decision to travel to Washington and join the angry mob. Lawyers for multiple riot defendants who have already pleaded guilty say they have received communications from the panel in recent days requesting their clients’ cooperation with the committee, which is led by Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.),” reports Politico.

“‘The Select Committee is examining the facts, circumstances, and causes of January 6, 2021, in order to identify and evaluate lessons learned and to recommend corrective law, policies, procedures, rules or regulations,’ said one such letter, obtained by POLITICO. ‘As part of that effort, we would like to interview your client, who we understand has accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty.’The panel is investigating not just the attack on the Capitol but former President Donald Trump’s effort to call his supporters to Washington that day and to promote discredited claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Earlier this week, the committee subpoenaed four top Trump allies, including his former chief of staff Mark Meadows. And it is working with the National Archives to obtain voluminous records from Trump’s White House, a move expected to kick off a fight over Trump’s ability to invoke executive privilege now that he’s out of office.”

“About 60 of the 600-plus rioters charged with storming the Capitol have pleaded guilty to participating in the riot, mostly to misdemeanor offenses like trespassing. It’s not immediately clear how many, if any, of those charged will agree to speak with House investigators. Such cooperation might help defendants get more lenient sentences, but some have already been sentenced, with a handful escaping jail time.”