section_path: Post-government career (2021–2024)/Investigations into Donald Trump
section_name: Investigations into Donald Trump
paragraph_text: Investigations into Donald Trump
  
  In September 2021, Patel was subpoenaed by the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. In addition, the committee requested that Patel submit to questioning. Although a lawyer for Trump instructed Patel to defy the subpoena, he communicated with the committee. In its efforts to examine Trump's efforts to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law to overturn the 2020 election, the committee requested Patel's communications relating to "the establishment of martial law, requests to establish martial law, or legal analysis of martial law" and "all documents and communications relating to" the Insurrection Act. American Oversight, a watchdog group, sought Patel's texts in August.
  
  In June 2022, Trump requested that the National Archives and Records Administration grant Patel and journalist John Solomon access to administration records; their designations were revoked in October 2023. After the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, Patel claimed that Trump had declassified the seized documents; his argument was the focus of investigators. As part of the FBI investigation into Trump's handling of government documents, federal prosecutors sought to have Patel testify before a grand jury. He appeared twice before a grand jury in October 2022, repeatedly pleading the Fifth Amendment in his first appearance. Prosecutors offered him immunity in November, securing his testimony. According to The Washington Post, prosecutors asked about his claim that Trump had declassified the documents, as well as Trump's motivation for taking the documents. Patel was represented by Stanley Woodward, who has frequently worked for associates of Trump.
  
  In September 2021, Patel was subpoenaed by the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. In addition, the committee requested that Patel submit to questioning. Although a lawyer for Trump instructed Patel to defy the subpoena, he communicated with the committee. In its efforts to examine Trump's efforts to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law to overturn the 2020 election, the committee requested Patel's communications relating to "the establishment of martial law, requests to establish martial law, or legal analysis of martial law" and "all documents and communications relating to" the Insurrection Act. American Oversight, a watchdog group, sought Patel's texts in August.
  
  In June 2022, Trump requested that the National Archives and Records Administration grant Patel and journalist John Solomon access to administration records; their designations were revoked in October 2023. After the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, Patel claimed that Trump had declassified the seized documents; his argument was the focus of investigators. As part of the FBI investigation into Trump's handling of government documents, federal prosecutors sought to have Patel testify before a grand jury. He appeared twice before a grand jury in October 2022, repeatedly pleading the Fifth Amendment in his first appearance. Prosecutors offered him immunity in November, securing his testimony. According to The Washington Post, prosecutors asked about his claim that Trump had declassified the documents, as well as Trump's motivation for taking the documents. Patel was represented by Stanley Woodward, who has frequently worked for associates of Trump.