Will he be helpful?
Contrary to earlier reports, Cipollone will do a videotaped interview this week. It’s a little chickenshit (he should agree to testify in public) but it’s probably smart to get him to talk behind closed doors under oath before they let him loose. Who knows what he’ll say.
But assuming that he will tell the truth, it could be very important testimony about what Trump was doing during the post election period and January 6th. I’m sure he will claim executive privilege
Former President Trump’s White House counsel Pat Cipollone will testify Friday in a closed-door, videotaped interview with the Jan. 6 committee.
Cipollone — a crucial witness to what unfolded inside the West Wing on Jan. 6 — was subpoenaed by the committee following former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s blockbuster testimony late last month.
Hutchinson revealed during the committee’s last hearing that Cipollone repeatedly tried to prevent Trump from encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
She testified that Cipollone had warned in the days leading up to the attack that the former president and his aides could be charged with “every crime imaginable” if Trump joined protesters at the Capitol.
While the attack was happening, Hutchinson testified that Cipollone demanded to see the president while rioters were chanting for former Vice President Mike Pence to be hanged, but then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told him Trump “doesn’t want to do anything” and “thinks Mike deserves it.”
Cipollone was said to be fighting Trump all the time, just as Don McGhan was said to be fighting Trump all along. And maybe they helped. But if they really are men of integrity they should be happy to come forward and tell what they know. McGahn fought it every step of the way until it was finally determined that he had to appear — long after it would do any good. Maybe Cipollone will do better. But I’ll frankly be surprised if they get anything meaningful out of him.