Trump’s Former Campaign Manager Will Publicly Testify To Jan. 6 Committee Monday

Topline

Former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien will testify at the House January 6 committee’s second public hearing Monday, days after committee members used their first bombshell hearing to document what they described as a “sophisticated” plan by Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Key Facts

Stepien—who was reportedly skeptical of some Trump advisors’ post-election claims but present for discussions to reverse the election—is appearing before lawmakers under subpoena, Politico reported Sunday, shortly after the committee released a list of witnesses for its Monday morning hearing.

Four other witnesses are set to testify Monday, including former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia BJay Pak, a Trump appointee who was reportedly forced to resign because the former president believed Pak didn’t take his baseless claims of voter fraud in his district seriously enough.

Testimony is also expected from Ben Ginsberg, a conservative attorney for former President George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign who has blasted Trump’s false election claims.

Former Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt and Al Schmidt, a Republican former Philadelphia city commissioner who worked on the county’s board of elections, are scheduled to testify.

What To Watch For

The five witnesses will testify Monday beginning at 10 a.m. Committee Vice-Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Monday’s hearing will highlight Trump’s post-election behavior, including how Trump ignored court rulings and advice from aides and government officials that his “frivolous” claims about a stolen election were false, and how his campaign spent millions of dollars to spread disinformation about the election results. The committee has another hearing scheduled for Wednesday, and additional hearings are expected throughout the month.

Key Background

Stepien was among six top Trump advisors subpoenaed by the committee in November for their involvement “in efforts to promote false claims of election fraud or overturn the results of the 2020 election.” Following a months-long investigation, the committee—composed of seven Democrats and two Republicans—held its first hearing Thursday during prime time, and publicized some details about the January 6 Capitol riot and attempts to overturn the election for the first time. Liz Cheney said multiple sitting members of Congress asked for pardons following the storming of the Capitol, and revealed that Trump responded to chants from his supporters calling to hang Vice President Mike Pence by telling aides that Pence “deserves it.” Lawmakers also played recorded testimony from Attorney General Bill Barr, who called Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election “bulls***,” and also showed a video of Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, telling the committee she “accepted” Barr’s position that there was no widespread fraud.

Big Number

More than 20 million. That’s roughly how many people tuned into the committee’s primetime hearing on Thursday, according to Nielson.

Further Reading

Here’s What’s Coming Up In The Next Jan. 6 Committee Hearings—And When (Forbes)

Jan. 6 Committee Hearing: Riot Defendants Say Trump ‘Asked’ Them To Storm Capitol (Forbes)