Topline
Right-wing radio show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones said he spoke with investigators from the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, but continually refused to answer their questions and condemned the violence that took place at the Capitol.
Alex Jones attends a protest outside the Texas State Capitol during a rally on April 25, 2020 in … [+]
Key Facts
Jones said on his InfoWars show he didn’t know the answers to about half of the questions and took the Fifth “almost 100 times” on the advice of his attorneys.
Jones added the committee has already obtained text messages sent between himself and Trump associates, including Caroline Wren, a former Trump campaign fundraiser who helped organize the January 6 rally, who Jones identified as his “White House connection.”
Though Jones did not enter the Capitol, videos showed him rousing crowds of Trump supporters on January 6, making statements like: “We need to understand this is 21st-century warfare.”
Crucial Quote
“They already have everything, and they already know I didn’t do anything—wasn’t planning any violence,” Jones said.
Key Background
The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot subpoenaed Jones on November 22, requiring him to turn over documents relating to the attack and testify before the committee. Like many who were subpoenaed, Jones initially said he would not comply with the investigation, and even sued the committee to try to block it from obtaining records, but ultimately ended up testifying. The committee has subpoenaed dozens of former Trump officials, right-wing activists and extremist groups as part of its investigation into the Capitol attack, which appears focused on determining former President Donald Trump’s actions on that day. The committee secured a major victory on that front last week, when the Supreme Court rejected a request from Trump to block the National Archives from turning over hundreds of pages of White House documents as part of the investigation.
Surprising Fact
Jones said investigators also continually asked if he had associations with extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Jones said he recalled after a rally at the Georgia State Capitol in November 2020, he saw Proud Boys at a Hooters who were “drinking beer and ate cheeseburgers.”
Further Reading
Text Messages Show Top Trump Campaign Fundraiser’s Key Role Planning the Rally That Preceded the Siege (ProPublica)
What Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Said in the Lead Up to the Capitol Riot (PBS)
Alex Jones Sues Jan. 6 Committee — And Doesn’t Plan To Answer Questions About Riot (Forbes)
Kayleigh McEnany, Stephen Miller Among Trump Officials Subpoenaed By House Jan. 6 Committee (Forbes)
Supreme Court Won’t Stop Congress From Accessing Jan. 6 Files, Despite Lawsuit From Trump (Forbes)
Proud Boys And Oath Keepers Among Extremist Groups Subpoenaed By Jan. 6 Committee (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/01/25/alex-jones-says-he-testified-before-jan-6-committee-and-took-the-fifth-almost-100-times/