Giuliani in discussions with Jan. 6 committee about testifying: report

Rudy Giuliani, previously former President Trump’s personal lawyer and adviser, is in discussions with the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol about testifying, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The former New York City mayor was subpoenaed by the committee on Jan. 18 along with three other campaign attorneys linked with efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell and Boris Epshteyn.

Giuliani was slated to give a deposition before the committee on Tuesday but was allowed to reschedule the appearance at “his request,” a committee aide told the Times. The House panel, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, is pushing for Giuliani to “cooperate fully,” the aide added.

Giuliani, meanwhile, is still mulling whether to invoke executive privilege or attorney-client privilege with Trump to shield certain information from the committee and negotiating over whether to give an informal interview or a formal deposition, the Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

But he has indicated to the committee through his attorney that he is more open to engaging with its requests than some other Trump allies who have refused to cooperate, according to the outlet.

In its subpoena to Giuliani, the committee wrote,“You actively promoted claims of election fraud on behalf of former President Trump and sought to convince state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results.”

The subpoena also noted that he “urged President Trump to direct the seizure of voting machines around the country after being told that the Department of Homeland Security had no lawful authority to do so.”

House lawmakers probing the Jan. 6 attack have subpoenaed at least 82 people and organizations thus far. Some, including former White House chief strategist and senior counselor Steve Bannon, have defied the committee’s subpoenas and requests for documents.