WASHINGTON. The House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack said Friday it would force Kimberley Guilfoyle, the fiancée of former President Donald Trump’s eldest son, to testify after she abruptly cut off a self-imposed interview with the commission.
Ms Gilfoyle, a television personality engaged to Donald Trump Jr., met virtually with the committee’s staff investigators on Friday after she provided documents the committee called “relevant” to its investigation. But she became flustered and interrupted the interrogation when she learned that committee members, including representatives Adam B. Schiff of California and Jamie Ruskin of Maryland, both Democrats, and Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the leader of the Republican group, were in the meeting. , according to people familiar with the situation, who spoke in a confidential interview on condition of anonymity.
Committee members regularly take part in the interrogation of high-ranking witnesses.
When news of the interview was leaked to the media, Ms Gilfoyle refused to proceed, and her lawyer accused the commission of trying to “sandbag her” and use her participation in the investigation as a “political weapon” against the former president.
“RS. Gilfoyle, under threat of subpoena, agreed to meet exclusively with counsel for the select committee in a good faith attempt to provide truthful and relevant evidence,” Joseph Tacopina, Ms. Gilfoyle’s lawyer, said in a statement after the interview fell through. “However, after the presence of Ms. Gilfoyle the committee showed its unreliability, as members notorious for leaking information appeared.
According to Mr. Takopin, when he asked for a break to discuss the matter, the commission reported the incident to journalists.
A spokesman for the committee denied having done so and said that Ms Gilfoyle’s refusal to cooperate left the commission no choice but to use its subpoena to force her to testify.
“The selection committee hoped she would do what dozens of other witnesses did: take part in voluntary transcripts of interviews with staff and committee members,” said Tim Mulvey, a spokesman. “RS. Gilfoyle has now refused to do so, forcing a select committee to require her to testify at an upcoming deposition.”
Miss Gilfoyle said she raised millions of dollars to help fund the rally leading up to the attack on the Capitol on 6 January. She was seen dancing backstage to Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” before the mob attack. Her lawyer denied that she had anything to do with the violence that broke out.
“They can do what they’re going to do,” Mr Tacopina said of the committee’s threat to subpoena. “Obviously, trust has vanished. After all, Kimberly didn’t do anything wrong.”
The committee interviewed more than 550 witnesses, but internally debated how aggressively the prosecution of the former president’s family members should be.
The commission asked the court to record telephone conversations between Ms. Gilfoyle and Eric Trump, the former president’s second eldest son, but opted for a lengthy negotiation process for the voluntary testimony of Ivanka Trump, the former president’s eldest daughter who advised him at the White House. House.
Trump’s spokeswoman said this week that she “to appear voluntarily in discussions with the committee for an interview.”