Washington (CNN)The House Select Committee, which conducted an inquiry on January 6, 2021, recently We are interviewing and discussing with the Secretary of Transportation. Multiple sources told CNN, along with former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and former National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien. Chao and DeVos, both members of former President Donald Trump's cabinet, resigned the day after the attack on the US Capitol,invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from powertalked about what to do.
News of Chao's collaboration, and committee discussions with DeVos and O'Brien, were not previously reported. This was after former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Panel on Tuesday. The 25th Amendment was a hot topic in Pompeo's talks, he previously reported to CNN.
Elaine Chao speaks April 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Additionally, sources told her CNN that the commission is still negotiating the terms of an interview with former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. said. Given the sensitivity of Ratcliffe's previous role, there are unique issues for both sides to resolve, sources said.
At least nine cabinet-level officials who were still in that role as of 6 January are known to have cooperated with or been involved with the commission.
Like Pompeo. In addition, DeVos and Chao are known to have considered the possibility of removing Trump from power via the25th Amendmentshortly after the January 6 attacks. DeVos and Chao both sent their resignations to Trump on his January 7th while Pompeo was completing his term as secretary of state.
As National Security Advisor, O'Brien was not a member of Trump's Cabinet, but sources said O'Brien was involved in high-level discussions on the 25th Amendment shortly after January 6. In a statement to CNN, O'Brien denied it, saying, "I was never involved in any discussion of invoking the 25th Amendment.
CNN previously stated that, reported that O'Brien also considered resigning, citing Trump's reaction to the violence that day, but ultimately decided to stay.
Robert O'Brien speaking at CPAC in Dallas, Texas in July 2021.
O'Brien was out of town on January 6, but his agent, Matthew Pottinger, was in Washington and told his superiors that day that he was resigning.[54] focused on Trump's inaction for 187 minutes when the violence unfolded.
'Brien declined to comment on working with Chao.
A Chao spokeswoman declined to comment.A DeVos spokeswoman said DeVos was actively discussing scheduling interviews. O'Brien did not comment on the meeting with the Commission, but did not provide further comment to CNN.
Several former ministers interviewed by the Commission were asked about the 25th Amendment investigation, but the Commission continued after 6 January to: It appears to be seeking information on these discussions.
In a June interview with USA Today, DeVos revealed for the first time publicly that she discussed a possible call. acknowledged
DeVos said he was USA Today Before resigning, he said he considered whether to use the 25th Amendment to fire Trump. was a viable option. DeVos said he told her that Pence would not support the use of the 25th Amendment and that his endorsement was necessary for such an effort to be successful.
A source told CNN that Chao, the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, had a similar argument before stepping down as Secretary of Transportation.
At ahearing before the
Commission earlier this summer, Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Trump's White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, said he would not be allowed to enter the Capitol. After the attack, he testified: , Pompeo warned Meadows that Cabinet secretaries had debated whether to invoke the 25th Amendment. told Meadows. "And if the conversation develops, we should be ready to take action on this."Several other officials in the Trump Cabinet is known to have already met with the Commission, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, former Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolfe,former Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia,and former Treasury Secretary. Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller and former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen
The Commission also met withformer Attorney General William Barr. He was leaving President Trump's former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney met with the committee last month.
Mr. Wolfe and one of his top deputies, Mr. Ken Cuccinelli, participated in meetings with the Commission over several months. Earlier, sources said.CNN previously reported theinterview.
