January 6 The panel threatened to force Guilfoyle to testify after she finished the interview

WASHINGTON – The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol said on Friday it will force Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of former President Donald J. Trump’s eldest son, to testify after when she abruptly ended her voluntary interview with the panel.

Guilfoyle, a TV personality engaged to Donald Trump Jr., met mostly with the commission’s coroners on Friday after she provided documents the commission described as “infringing.” ” for his investigation. But she became agitated and interrupted the question when she learned that the committee’s members – including Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland, both Democrats, and Liz Cheney of Wyoming , the panel’s top Republican – is taking part in the session. , according to people familiar with the situation who spoke about the secret interview on condition of anonymity.

Committee members regularly participate in panel interviews with prominent witnesses.

When news of the interview leaked to the media, Ms. Guilfoyle refused to continue, and her attorney accused the jury of trying to “sandbag” her and use her involvement. joined the investigation as a “political weapon” against the former president.

“Multiple Sclerosis. Guilfoyle, under threat of a subpoena, has agreed to meet privately with counsel to the selection committee in a good faith effort to provide relevant and authentic evidence,” the law said. Ms. Guilfoyle’s lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said in a statement after the interview ended. infamous for leaking information has emerged.”

When he asked for a break to deal with the matter, Mr. Tacopina said the panel had disclosed the incident to reporters.

A committee spokesman denied having done so and said Ms Guilfoyle’s refusal to cooperate left the panel with no choice but to use its subpoena power to force her to do so. proof.

Spokesperson Tim Mulvey said: “The selection committee had hoped she would do as dozens of other witnesses have done: participate in a voluntary, tape-recorded interview with staff and members of the committee. you. “Multiple Sclerosis. Guilfoyle has now refused to do so, forcing the selection panel to give her testimony at an upcoming trial.”

Mrs. Guilfoyle said she raised millions of dollars to help fund the protest before the January 6 attack on the Capitol. She seen dancing in the backstage area to Laura Branigan’s song “Gloria” before the mob attack. Her lawyer denied she had anything to do with the violence that broke out.

“They can do what they’re going to do,” Tacopina said of the commission’s threat of subpoenas. “Obviously, the trust went out the window. At the end of the day, Kimberly did nothing wrong. ”

The committee interviewed more than 550 witnesses, but debated internally about the extent of aggression in its pursuit of members of the former president’s family.

The panel subpoenaed Guilfoyle and Eric Trump, the former president’s eldest son, by phone, but opted for a lengthy negotiation process for the voluntary testimony of Ivanka Trump, the former’s eldest daughter. president, who advised him in the White House.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Trump said this week she had “in discussions with the committee to voluntarily appear for an interview.”

On Friday, the panel also heard testimony from two Georgia Republicans who were involved in the plan. using fake “alternative electorate” vehicles in key states won by President Biden to try to keep former President Trump in office.

David Shafer, the state’s party chairman, and Shawn Still, the former secretary, told the panel they named themselves pro-Trump electors when consulting with the Trump campaign, according to their attorneys.

Bob Driscoll, an attorney for both witnesses, argued in a statement that the men did nothing wrong and were acting only “temporarily” to “defend a remedy in the eventual case the President Trump succeeds.”

“There is nothing secret or secret about the meeting,” Driscoll said, adding that the pro-Trump electors voted publicly on December 14, 2020, which was attended by the media. pine.

The committee said the Georgia Republican then sent Congress a “Certificate of Votes,” which was used as an excuse to try to delay or block Biden’s election certification during the election. joint session of the National Assembly on January 6, 2021.

Maggie Haberman contribution report.