Trump treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin has been interviewed by Jan 6 committee: report
The panel is examining whether Mr Trump’s cabinet took steps to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The House January 6 select committee’s investigation is now gathering evidence from more of former president Donald Trump’s Cabinet members in hopes of learning whether they seriously considered declaring him incapacitated after he incited a riotous mob to attack the US Capitol.
According to multiple reports, the panel has interviewed Steven Mnuchin, the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice producer who served as Mr Trump’s treasury secretary from 2017 until the end of his term on 20 January 2021.
Mick Mulvaney, the onetime acting White House chief of staff who resigned as Mr Trump’s special envoy for Northern Ireland after the attack, is set to give evidence before the panel on Thursday, and committee members are also preparing to interview former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The panel has already interviewed at least one of Mr Trump’s former cabinet secretaries. During previous hearings, the presentation of evidence included excerpts from a videotaped deposition with Eugene Scalia, the son of the late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia who served as Mr Trump’s labour secretary during the last days of his term.
The committee is examining whether cabinet members took any steps to invoke a section of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution that would have had the effect of removing him from office on the grounds of incapacity. If then-vice president Mike Pence and a majority of Mr Trump’s cabinet had issued a “written declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Grassley, who at the time was the upper chamber’s president pro tempore.
That declaration would have kicked off a process under which Congress would have had to vote on whether Mr Trump was able to resume holding the powers of the presidency, but because such a vote could be delayed by up to 21 days, the effect would have been to make Mr Pence the acting president until Joe Biden’s 20 January 2021 inauguration.
House Democrats, led by Ms Pelosi, called on Mr Pence and the cabinet to declare Mr Trump incapacitated in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, but Mr Pence declined to participate in the process.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments