Phone records of congress members requested as part of congressional committee inquest into #StoptheSteal January 6 riot.

The congressional committee launching an inquest into the deadly January 6 riot has requested phone records originating from a selected group of republican congress members.

Former US president Donald Trump and his family are among those under investigation for the “Stop the Steal” rally which took the lives of four individuals.  

The committee has requested records from 35 telecommunication and social media companies for the investigation as they work to source witnesses, Committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey says. 

“The Select Committee is at this point gathering facts, not alleging wrongdoing by any individual.”

Tim Mulvey

Who are the committee targeting?

Social media platforms Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Signal have received the request to reserve any data relating to the inquiry.

Telecommunication companies Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile were also approached. 

The committee is collecting metadata, subscriber information, technical usage information and content of communications from specific individuals as part of the inquiry.

Anyone involved in “organising, funding or speaking” at the rally or “challenging, delaying or interfering” with the electoral certification process are being investigated.

While the committee does possess subpoena power, obtaining the records of congress members could have legal ramifications. 

This is the third request for information as the committee works to speed up the investigation into the riot which saw 600 people arrested. 

Could Trump be to blame?

“Stop the Steal” was coined in the 2016 presidential election by Roger Stone, a longtime Trump associate. 

The phrase has been a tagline through Trump’s political career, with pro-Trump activists adopting the movement. 

It was also a key focal point during the January 6 riot which saw pro-trump supporters storm the US Capitol. 

Trump allegedly “stirred the pot” prior to the riots, telling his supporters at an earlier rally that they should “never concede” defeat.

“Our country has had enough, and we will not take it anymore.”

Donald Trump

 “We will stop the steal.”

Written by Rebecca Borg