In a written statement, Biggs, who has resisted a subpoena from the committee, maintained he didn’t seek a pardon./Gage Sizemore
By Ronald J. Hansen |Arizona Republic
Presidential pardons were sought for all four of Arizona’s congressional Republicans after the 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, with Rep. Andy Biggs specifically seeking one for himself, according to material released Thursday by the committee probing the insurrection.
The information dealing with the sprawling requests for legal protection came up near the end of a hearing that revealed the breadth of efforts by President Donald Trump to push the U.S. Justice Department to help promote the false narrative of a stolen election.
Five days after the riot, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., wrote an email shared by the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol regarding pardons for “every Congressman and Senator who voted to reject the electoral college vote submissions of Arizona and Pennsylvania.”
Biggs and Arizona Republican Reps. Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko voted to set aside Arizona and Pennsylvania’s electors. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., voted to set aside only Pennsylvania’s.
In all, 147 Republicans voted to set aside certified election results after police quelled the riot.
The basis for the prospective pardons wasn’t clear, and it was unclear whether the members wanted what Brooks discussed.
In a written statement, Biggs, who has resisted a subpoena from the committee, maintained he didn’t seek a pardon.
“The unAmerican January 6 Committee continues to pursue me with the false allegation that I sought a presidential pardon,” Biggs said. “To the extent Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House staffer, believes I requested a presidential pardon, she is mistaken.
“Like the many selective leaks from this illegally formed Committee, today’s video testimony from Ms. Hutchinson was deceptively edited to make it appear as if I personally asked her for a presidential pardon.
