Cheney rules OUT Trump testifying to Jan. 6 committee on live TV, says he won’t make it a ‘circus’

Outgoing Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney vowed on Sunday not to let Donald Trump turn his scheduled deposition before the January 6 committee into a ‘circus’ – and ruled out the possibility of him testifying on live television.

The committee, which she helps lead as vice chair, formally subpoenaed the former president on Friday with a 10-page letter detailing their ‘overwhelming evidence’ that he ‘personally orchestrated and oversaw a multi-part effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.’

Trump is ordered to appear before the committee on November 14 at 10am.

Speaking to NBC News’ Meet The Press on Sunday, Cheney suggested it’s possible that Trump committed ‘multiple criminal offenses’ which the panel is in the course of investigating.

‘We are anticipating that the former president will understand his legal obligation, will comply with the subpoena,’ Cheney said.

‘We’ve made clear in the subpoena a number of things, including that if he intends to take the Fifth that he ought to alert us of that ahead of time.’

Trump reportedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination more than 400 times during a deposition earlier this year, for an unrelated probe into his business practices by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. 

But unlike past court orders, Trump is reportedly inclined not to delay the appointment before January 6 investigators. 

Rep. Liz Cheney spoke to NBC News’ Meet The Press two days after the January 6 committee, which she vice chairs, sent Donald Trump a subpoena

He is instead telling aides he’ll testify – if it’s on live TV like the series of eight hearings the committee held over the summer, according to the New York Times. 

Host Chuck Todd asked Cheney, ‘Is the committee open to his supposed offer, or at least behind the scenes offer, of going on live television?’

‘So the committee treats this matter with great seriousness. And we are going to proceed in terms of the questioning of the former president under oath,’ the conservative replied.

She added that Trump’s sit-down could take ‘multiple days.’ 

‘And it will be done with a level of rigor and discipline and seriousness that it deserves. We are not going to allow…he’s not going to turn this into a circus,’ Cheney said.

‘This isn’t going to be, you know, his first debate against Joe Biden and the circus and the food fight that that became. This is a far too serious set of issues.

‘And we’ve made clear exactly what his obligations are. And we are proceeding with that set out.’

Trump has reportedly said he would testify if it could be within one of the committee’s public hearing settings, broadcast on live television

Cheney declined to say what crimes she believes Trump made, only saying the panel believes he committee ‘multiple’ offenses

But Cheney was reluctant to elaborate when pressed on what she believes the Justice Department could charge Trump with.

‘Look, I think that there are multiple criminal offenses. I don’t want to get in front of the committee, but that we are looking at,’ she said.

In addition to his sit-down testimony, the committee is also seeking key records and communications from Trump dated between November 3, 2020 and the day of the Capitol attack.

The committee’s letter suggests that Trump used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss ways to fundraise off of his election fraud claims and challenging ballot counts in key states.

Trump is required to hand over any relevant documents by November 4. 

In her own Sunday news interview, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi taunted Trump about his upcoming deposition.

‘I don’t think he’s man enough to show up,’ the California Democrat told MSNBC’s The Sunday Show.