Doug Mastriano Refuses To Answer Questions In Jan. 6 Committee Hearing

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania Republican candidate for governor and State Sen. Doug Mastriano refused to answer any questions during his virtual appearance Tuesday before the Jan. 6 Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, citing procedural irregularities and the fact that the defense could not personally record the session.

Mastriano was present in the crowd the day the mob broke into the U.S. Capitol, though he did not personally enter. He was a major proponent of since-debunked claims of election fraud touted by former President Donald Trump in 2020, claims which sparked the attempt to prevent the certification of election results on Jan. 6.

Mastriano's lawyer, Tim Parlatore, said that the committe "has no interest in complying with the regulations" of a deposition.

“We’re happy to provide the information," Parlotore told CNN, "if they can either do it fairly and legally or if we can reach a resolution on how to do a voluntary interview which minimizes the risk of election interference."

The hearing was cut off by Parlatore after about 15 minutes. The refusal to cooporate on these grounds was expected, the New York Times reports.

Mastriano's opponent, Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro, said that Mastriano's behavior should set off warning bells.

"Here’s what you need to know: he crossed police barricades, defied law enforcement, and marched to the steps of the Capitol," Shapiro said. "We can’t normalize this. He’s dangerous."

It's not yet clear how the committee will respond to Mastriano's departure. He was originally subpoenaed by the committee in February. The committee said at the time it was seeking information about efforts to send false slates of electors to Washington and change the outcome of the 2020 election.

"We understand that you have knowledge of and participated in a plan to arrange for an alternate slate of electors to be presented to the President of the Senate on January 6, 2021, and we understand that you spoke with former President Trump about your post-election activities," Rep. Bernie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee chair, wrote in a letter to Mastriano.

The committee also wants to ask Mastriano about his participation in the Jan. 6 riot by pro-Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol and delayed the certification of Joe Biden's win.

The group says they want to "better understand" communications Mastriano had with elected officials about the results of the 2020 election.

Mastriano has said he was in the Capitol to support Trump, who spoke just before the riots took place and encouraged dissent from the election's results.

The committee interviewed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday as well. The latest round of hearings come days after the FBI separately raided President Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago home in Florida, in search of classified records he took from the White House to his Florida residence, the Associated Press reported.

With background reporting from Patch correspondent Eric Heyl