John Eastman’s keyword list prior to the Jan. 6 insurrection adds fuel to House panel investigation: report

John Eastman, who previously worked as a lawyer for former President Donald Trump, is facing pressure from the House Select Committee overseeing the investigation of the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol to surrender records that contain specific keywords in compliance with his subpoena.

According to The Guardian, the keyword terms are said to shed light on Eastman's role in the alleged conspiracy lawmakers are investigating to uncover. "The keyword search list – which the select committee transmitted to Eastman – provides a glimpse of what House investigators suspect might be contained among the thousands of emails and documents that Eastman is being forced to review to comply with his subpoena."

An inside source with knowledge of the investigation has revealed "The list is intended to act as a dragnet to catch his records from 4 to 7 January about efforts to overturn the 2020 election results between Eastman and individuals in different 'centres of gravity.'”

In addition to the committee's investigation into Eastman's search terms, the lawmakers are also investigating several Republican congressional members. Those lawmakers include Sens. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.); and Reps. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Doug Mastriano (R-Penn.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and Scott Perry (R-Calif.).

Another focus for the committee will be on Eastman's communications with members of the federal government. That list includes emails under the following domains: “'usdoj.gov' and 'justice.gov' for the justice department, 'senate.gov' for the Senate, and 'house.gov' for the House."

The latest development follows House Select Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson's (D-Miss.) move to issue automatic subpoenas for specific documents and testimonies. As the investigation moves forward, the committee has expanded its scope. Following that move, Thompson said, “We keep adding to the list of people we need to talk to. That’s grown the body of work."