House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised to formally establish a new committee to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This new committee, led by GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, is part of a broader effort by Republicans to continue and expand investigations that began in the previous Congress. With control of both houses of Congress and the White House, Republicans are taking the opportunity to move forward with their priorities and follow through on long-running political inquiries.
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Loudermilk revealed that the details of this new committee are still being worked out, but it is expected to be a select committee. This designation means the committee would have more flexibility in its structure and membership, with Speaker Johnson having significant influence over the appointment of its members. Loudermilk’s work on the January 6th investigation has been closely followed by Republicans, who argue that the attack was the result of numerous failures at various levels of government, rather than being solely the result of actions by former President Donald Trump.
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At the same time, some Democrats have expressed concern about the direction of these ongoing investigations. Sen. Adam Schiff, a former key member of the January 6th select committee, has suggested that he might reject any potential pardon offered by President Biden to those involved in the Congressional inquiry. Schiff, who has long criticized the use of pardons, explained that accepting one could be seen as an admission of guilt. If that were the case, it could complicate the legal status of those individuals if they were to be called to testify under oath.
Legal experts have noted that pardons do not shield individuals from testifying under oath if they are subpoenaed. This could have significant implications for individuals like Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, both of whom were on the list of those granted pardons by Biden. While the pardons protect them from criminal prosecution, they do not provide immunity from legal proceedings, which could include testimony in Congress. In fact, some experts view these pardons as a way to ensure that individuals are still compelled to testify if called to do so.
