Kevin McCarthy, House
Minority Leader in the United States House of Representatives, said Tuesday
that the Republicans “will not forget” if telecoms provide phone and email
records to the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the
Capitol. The California Republican’s comment follows the House select committee
sending letters to 35 telecommunication companies asking them to preserve a
number of records.

While the House
select committee’s letters to the telecoms does not reveal whose information is
being sought, but it does specifically ask for the records of those who were
involved in the rallies to protest the certification of the US election results.
This group of people could include some lawmakers.

Taking issue with
the select committee’s recommendation to the telecoms, Kevin McCarthy said that
obtaining phone and email records “would put every American with a phone or
computer in the crosshairs of a surveillance state run by democratic
politicians”.

“If these
companies comply with the Democrat order to turn over private information, they
are in violation of federal law and subject to losing their ability to operate
in the United States,” Kevin McCarthy said.

“If companies
still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and
will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law,” he
added.  

However, McCarthy
did not cite the law that barred telecoms from complying with the House select
committee’s request.   

The letters sent
out by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots are
not formal subpoenas. Further, the letters call upon telecommunications
companies to maintain the confidentiality of those whose information is being
sought.

“If you are not
able or willing to respond to this request without altering the subscribers or
the accounts, please contact the select committee prior to the proceeding,” the
letter states.