Rudy Giuliani Claims Jan. 6 Panel 'Can't Subpoena Anybody' Despite Being Subpoenaed

Rudy Giuliani, the personal attorney for Donald Trump, has claimed the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack is "illegal" and does not have the power to subpoena people—despite being subpoenaed himself.

Speaking to Newsmax, Giuliani hit out at the panel investigating the events which led up to the Capitol attack, taking particular issue with Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who is on the committee and also led the prosecution for Trump's first impeachment trial in 2017.

"Why is he on this phony January 6 committee? He has already been proven to be a liar, who's willing to lie to just dislodge the president," Giuliani said in reference to Schiff's claims that he had evidence that Trump colluded with Russia before and after the 2016 election.

"How can you have any confidence in this committee, which, by the way is illegal and it doesn't have a minority membership. It really can't subpoena anybody."

Giuliani goes on to suggest that the January 6 investigation is nothing "more than Russian collusion with another name and a new lie," while expressing mockingly exaggerated opinions that the Capitol riot was "worse than September 11, it's worse than Pearl Harbour. It's worse than the Civil War. It's worse than the end of the world."

Giuliani's claims that the January 6 panel does not have the power to subpoena anybody arrives weeks after he was subpoenaed to hand over documents relating to the investigation.

The lawyer, who was one of the main pushers of the so-called "big lie" that the 2020 Election was rigged against Trump, was subpoenaed on January 18 along with his assistant Jenna Ellis, Trump campaign strategist Boris Epshteyn and QAnon-supporting lawyer Sidney Powell.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, recently reported that Giuliani is willing to speak to the January 6 committee, rather than face the prospect of being held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply, as happened to Trump's former White House advisor Steve Bannon.

However, it is unclear what information Giuliani is willing to provide, or how far he is prepared to cooperate. The Times reported that he was negotiating over whether to give an informal interview or a formal deposition.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, previously told Newsweek that trying to force Giuliani to give up information relating to Trump may prove fruitless as he can invoke attorney-client privilege.

"Attorney-client privilege—confidential communication between attorney and client providing the legal advice, is absolutely protected," Rahmani said. "That's not something that law enforcement, courts, Congress, can delve into."

Speaking to CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the January 6 committee, said the panel "fully expect" Giuliani to comply with the subpoena.

"Our expectation is he is going to cooperate because that's the law, that's the requirement, same as if somebody [is] subpoenaed to court," Kinzinger said.

A spokesperson for Giuliani has been contacted for comment.