New House Subpoena Sparks Wave of Theories

House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms William McFarland announced his office was served a grand jury subpoena by the Department of Justice (DOJ), sparking a wave of theories on social media on Monday afternoon.

McFarland formally notified House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, of a subpoena on Monday. Details about the subpoena, including the investigation to what it is related to, remained unknown, causing some legal experts and political observers to speculate about what it could be about.

Susan Cole, the reading clerk of the House of Representatives, read the notification from McFarland on the House floor Monday afternoon.

"This is to notify you formally, pursuant to Rule 8 of the House of Representatives, that the office of the sergeant at arms for the House of Representatives has been served with a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the US Department of Justice. After consulting with the office of general counsel, I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the rights and privileges of the House," she read.

The sergeant at arms is the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the House of Representatives, according to the House's official website. In that position, McFarland is tasked with overseeing "all issues relating to the safety and security of Members of Congress and the Capitol complex."

Neither the DOJ nor the Office of the Sergeant at Arms has confirmed what the subpoena is related to, leading to social media speculation. None of theories circulating online could be independently verified by Newsweek.

A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment when reached by Newsweek Monday afternoon.

"Keep in mind, Rep Scott Perry's communications seized pursuant to a search warrant in 2022 were JUST finally released to Jack Smith's office after a prolonged 'speech or debate' privilege battle that Perry mostly lost. I wonder if this new subpoena is related," wrote the Mueller, She Wrote podcast account on X, formerly Twitter.

Perry's cell phone was seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in August 2022 as part of the investigation into the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The Republican congressman from Pennsylvania has not been charged with any crimes.

"What grand jury? The Trump stuff was already indicted," asked lawyer Bradley P. Moss in his own X post.

Some social media users speculated about whether the subpoena could be related to January 6, 2021, Capitol riot investigations. During the riot, a group of former President Donald Trump's supporters violently protested the 2020 presidential election results after Trump claimed without evidence that the election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud.

Meanwhile, more than 140 Republicans voted against certifying then-President Elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. Trump, the frontrunner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, and more than 1,200 individuals involved in the riot have been charged in the case, but no members of Congress have faced charges. The former president maintains his innocence in the case.

"January 6th-related? Something else?" asked user @TrumpTaxes.

"The House sergeant at arms... DOJ documents... grand jury subpoena...Hmmm... sounds like some congressional insurrectionist are soon about to find out..." posted user @HadleySheley.

"Possibilities: - investigation related to January 6 - the time that one Democrat pulled the fire alarm in the House - something else," posted lawyer Robert J. DeNault.

He referred to Representative Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat, pulling a fire alarm at the Cannon building last September. His office has said he believed pulling the alarm would open a door, not trigger an alarm.

Update 01/29/24, 3:52 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 1/29/24, 3:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the DOJ.