The Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Ranking Member Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) issued a subpoena to Jim Watkins, the owner of the website 8chan, for testimony related to the Committee’s ongoing oversight work on countering extremist content on social media platforms.  A copy of the subpoena can be found here.   

Watkins must appear before the committee on September 5th, 2019. In a video, Watkins said, "It's a shame I am being blamed for this," says a news report. 

Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Rogers released the following joint statement on the subpoena:

“Today the Committee on Homeland Security issued a subpoena to Jim Watkins, the owner of the website 8chan. In recent years, violent extremist content has proliferated on both large and small social media platforms. At least three acts of deadly white supremacist extremist violence have been linked to 8chan in the last six months. We have questions on what is being done to counter this trend so we can be sure it is being properly addressed. Receiving testimony from Mr. Watkins is critical to our oversight on this matter.”