Georgia orders former House Speaker Gingrich to testify for Jan. 6
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Gingrich is arguing that his testimony is not a requirement in an out-of-state probe because the special grand jury does not have the power to indict.
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Former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich (CNN)
Former US Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich received an order by a Virginia judge on Wednesday to testify in front of the January 6 committee in Fulton County, Georgia, for the investigation concerning former President Donald Trump’s efforts in the state to overturn the 2020 election.
Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Smith rejected an argument at a hearing from Gingrich’s legal team, siding with prosecutors who said his testimony is necessary.
According to AP, Gingrich argued that his testimony is not a requirement in an out-of-state probe because the special grand jury does not have the power to indict and reiterated his agreement to testify to the House committee for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
AP added that Smith stated there was no difference between special grand juries and regular grand juries in federal law, insinuating that the testimony was unnecessary, as he also sided with prosecutors regarding the possibility of some overlap concerning different interests in the probes.
Fani Willis, Democrat Fulton County's District Attorney, pointed fingers at Gingrich last month for being involved in a plan to offer a fake selection of electors in Georgia so Trump could win votes in the state back in 2020 - which the House Committee reflected upon this past autumn.
The District Attorney launched her investigation into the election scam last year when it was discovered that Trump asked Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” sufficient votes to count the state as his after losing to President Joe Biden by approximately 11,000 votes.
Trump's former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who strived to not testify were also subpoenaed by Willis. Their attempts were futile as they were rejected by the US Supreme Court.
Gingrich’s lawyer is expected to appeal the ruling, and if it fails, Gingrich will be forced to testify on November 29.
