House Committee Subpoenas Former Proud Boys Lawyer in Jan. 6 Investigation

Jason Lee Van Dyke has said will be complying for the most part, but is also claiming attorney-client privilege for some documents.

Jack Wheatley

On Tuesday, the Select Committee investigating the January 6th insurrection issued a slew of subpoenas to members of differing extremist groups for their role in the attack on the US Capitol, among them attorney Jason Lee Van Dyke. Van Dyke was the former leader for the fascist group and helped construct their bylaws and constitution, as well as owned the Proud Boys International trademark, before dissolving it last February. For a short period, Van Dyke was the leader of the group after Gavin McInnes stepped down, but was quickly ousted after accidentally doxxing his fellow members.

The subpoena states:

“The investigation and public reports have revealed credible evidence of the involvement of the Proud Boys in the events within the scope of the Select Committee’s inquiry. You have been identified in reporting as the Proud Boys’ attorney; you also reportedly served as Chairman of the Proud Boys in 2018. You have also been identified in reporting as the former owner of the “Proud Boys” trademark, which you surrendered in February 2021. JLVD Holdings, L.L.C. – which corresponds to your initials  – is listed as the last director of Proud Boys International, L.L.C., before its dissolution on February 10, 2021. As you appear to be the last record-holder of Proud Boys International, L.L.C., the Select Committee seeks relevant records in your possession, custody, or control.”

Further in the Committee’s subpoena are cited instances of calls to violence by members of the group, including a November 2020 social media post by former leader Joe Biggs writing: “It’s time for a f***ing war if they steal this s***” in reference to the 2020 election. Also cited are allegations by DC officials that the Proud Boys “incited violence and vandalism in the streets of Washington, D.C., while rallying in support of then-President Trump’s attempt to overturn the election results,” and referenced Enrique Tarrio’s burning of a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a historic Black church.

Within the document are a number of footnotes corresponding to the documents request. One of those footnotes included reporting by VICE News of a leaked phone call in which Van Dyke is heard emphatically showing his support for National Socialism in an attempt to gain membership into the Neo-Nazi terrorist organization, The Base.

In an interview today regarding the subpoena, Jason said he will comply, for the most part. “The things requested were about 26 categories of documents, 24 of them I don’t have anything, because I haven’t been affiliated with this group for about three years now,” he said. “Stuff I have which is not protected by attorney client privilege, work product doctrine which I’m not otherwise prohibited by the rules from turning over to them, they can have it. The other stuff I’m claiming privilege. I will be complying with the subpoena to the extent that I am permitted to under the rules of professional conduct in the jurisdictions where I am licensed.

“The ones I will be handing over to them are the by-laws, the last adopted version of the bylaws which were released to the public back when they were written in 2018, they requested those, I’m happy to hand those over, I’m gonna comply with that. And they’ve also asked for all documents that Proud Boys International LLC filed with the Texas Secretary of State, they’re public records, I’m happy to hand those over to them.”

When asked if he’s worried whether he will face any future legal action in regards to his affiliation with the Proud Boys he claimed, “I’m not doing anything wrong right now, I’m not involved in any illegal activities, I’m not afraid of you, I’m not afraid of anyone else. I’m just doing my job and I got nothing to be worried about.”

Jack Wheatley can be reached on Twitter at @jacktwheatley.