Chairman Williams Subpoenas Two SBA Employees for Agency’s Refusal to Comply with Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, subpoenaed Tyler Robinson, Special Advisor to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Arthur Plews, Chief of Staff to the SBA. These actions were necessary because of the agency's refusal to comply with the Committee's ongoing investigation into potential electioneering activities by the SBA regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they have entered with Michigan's Secretary of State to register voters. Chairman Williams and Subcommittee Chairs Meuser (PA-09) and Van Duyne (TX-24) issued the following statements.

"The fact that we are having to issue subpoenas to speak with SBA officials is extremely disappointing," said Chairman Williams. "The committee has given these two individuals the opportunity to speak with us voluntarily, but this appears to be the only way to get them to comply with our constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities. The American people deserve answers and transparency on the electioneering activities of the SBA and how they have or plan to insert themselves in the upcoming federal elections. The SBA's sole mission is to help Main Street thrive and grow, and they have repeatedly strayed from that mission to pursue outside political objectives. It's unfortunate that we have arrived at this point, but this Committee is determined to get answers on behalf of the American people."

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"It is unconscionable that during such a precarious time for our nation's small businesses, the sole federal agency created to serve as their advocate is instead utilizing their limited taxpayer resources and time to advance partisan political campaigns," said Subcommittee Chairman Meuser. "It shows a total disregard for our nation's small businesses and gross administrative malpractice. The SBA's MOU with the Michigan Department of State is a blatant attempt by the Biden Administration to illegally use the SBA as an extension of the President's campaign. They are working to elect Democrats, which is abundantly clear considering registration efforts are targeted at cities like Detroit and other urban areas. And if this is being done in Michigan, we can make an educated assumption that it is also happening in other swing states. The subpoenas issued today by the Small Business Committee will help expose where exactly this is happening, who authorized it, and what other federal agencies are engaged in similar illegal electioneering. We continue to demand documents and testimony from the SBA, and we will get answers for the American people. This is a scandal and yet another illegal action from President Biden. Those involved in this illegal effort will be held accountable."

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"At every step, the Small Business Administration has obstructed our investigation into the Biden Administration's misuse of taxpayer dollars for campaign efforts,"said Subcommittee Chairman Van Duyne. "They've failed to provide Congress with requested documents and refused interviews multiple times, hampering oversight into this administration's corrupt actions. Today, I joined my colleagues on the House Committee on Small Business in issuing subpoenas to Tyler Robinson and Arthur Plews as a last resort. We will not stop investigating and are committed to exposing the truth."

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Read the story here.

Read the Subpoena to Mr. Tyler Robinson here.

Read the Subpoena to Mr. Arthur Plews here.

Background:

Since President Biden announced his March 2021 Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting (E.O. 14019), Republicans on the House Committee on Small Business have been investigating the Small Business Administration's (SBA) involvement and participation in the voter registration efforts stemming from E.O. 14019. The Committee re-engaged the SBA and Administrator Guzman when the SBA issued a press release on March 19, 2024, announcing their new voter registration Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Moreover, the Committee issued two transcribed interview requests to Mr. Robinson and Mr. Plews on April 18, 2024, following a video recording with information pertinent to the investigation and was made public the previous day. The SBA refused to make Mr. Robinson and Mr. Plews available for their respective interviews and made no effort to negotiate alternate dates and times. Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) attended the transcribed interview for Mr. Robinson on Thursday, May 2, 2024, and made a statement on the record.

The Committee, at every turn, gave the SBA every available avenue to respond to its questions willfully. The Committee remains committed to ensuring the SBA is transparent with the American public and focused on ensuring that they are not involved in political activities on behalf of a sitting President.

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