Justice Department requests transcripts from Jan. 6 committee

The Department of Justice has asked the Jan. 6 select committee for transcripts from its investigation but the panel has not yet shared them, the panel’s chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said Tuesday.

Thompson (D-Miss.) said he has replied that the committee won’t hand over its “work product” but might invite department officials to review the documents in committee offices.

“My understanding is they want to have access to our work product. And we told them, no, we’re not giving that to anybody,” Thompson said in comments confirmed by a committee aide.

The Justice Department’s request to the select committee was first reported by The New York Times on Tuesday.

The department has been expanding its investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and homing in on figures in former President Donald Trump’s orbit, particularly those associated with organizing “Stop the Steal” events that preceded the attack on the Capitol.

The committee has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, including dozens of figures connected to the Jan. 6 rallies. One of them, Ali Alexander, has also confirmed he has received a grand jury subpoena.

The Justice Department declined to comment on its request for the interview transcripts.