The US House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack has subpoenaed the US Secret Service (USSS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to obtain erased text messages from January 5-6, 2021.

The subpoena, signed by committee chair Representative Bennie G. Thompson on Friday, seeks text messages from the USSS concerning the January 6 attack. On August 25, 2021 the committee sent a request to DHS for all documents pertaining to conversations between DHS and the White House on January 5 and 6, including documents from the Secret Service, but did not receive text messages from the Secret Service. The committee later learned that Secret Service text messages from January 5 and 6 were deleted.

According to the subpoena, the Secret Service erased these messages during a “device-replacement program.” A statement from the Secret Service claimed that the deletion was part of a “pre-planned, three-month system migration” which resulted in the loss of some data. However, the statement also claimed that none of the texts sought were lost. It also seeks any after-action reports issued by the Secret Service about the January 6 attack.

Earlier this week, the committee presented evidence that extremist groups arrived at the US Capitol with violent intentions in response to a tweet from former US President Donald Trump.

The purpose of these hearings, according to a letter by Thompson, is not to press charges, but rather to “identify and evaluate lessons learned” and recommended policies, regulations, and laws to prevent future instances of violence at the Capitol.

House Resolution 503 authorizes the committee to investigate the Capitol attack. Section 5 of the resolution allows the committee to compel testimony or production by subpoena.