Former Trump aides reportedly must testify before Jan. 6 panel

A federal appeals court on Tuesday blocked a motion by Donald Trump’s legal team that would have barred the former president’s top aides from testifying in a federal investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

First federal appeals court decision in Washington, D.C. Reported by PoliticoThat came hours before Trump’s arrest and indictment on dozens of felony counts related to business fraud in Manhattan, according to sources.

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Trump’s team on Monday asked a court in Washington, DC, to block witnesses such as former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows from testifying about his role in the deadly January 6, 2021 insurrection. CNN reported,

The appeal came after a lower court ruled that several people in Republicans’ inner White House circle would be forced to answer to a grand jury to determine whether the ex-president and his associates should face federal charges in connection with the riots. Should face prosecution.

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In addition to Meadows, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, his former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, former top aide Stephen Miller and former deputy chief of staff and social media director Dan Scavino were named in the order.

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The lower court rejected arguments that the former officers were protected from testifying by executive privilege.

Former Vice President Mike Pence was also ordered by a federal judge to testify before the panel.

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has been tasked with investigating whether Trump supporters are criminally liable for vandalizing the Capitol and reversing his election loss, as well as those found at his resort after leaving office To handle troves of classified documents.

More than 1,000 suspects have been arrested for their roles in the riots on 6 January, in which five people were killed.

Prosecutors reportedly said last week that another 1,200 are still being sought by the feds.