Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney’s Worst Nightmare Becomes Reality
Georgia Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk revealed that House Speaker Mike Johnson assured him the investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol would be “formalized as a new committee.”
With control over both chambers of Congress and the White House, Republicans are advancing multiple inquiries they initiated during the last Congress.
Loudermilk explained to CNN that while details of the new committee are still under discussion, one option under consideration is granting Johnson greater authority over the panel’s structure and activities, often referred to as a “select committee.”
The creation of this new body, which emphasizes Loudermilk’s work—including a report recommending former GOP Representative Liz Cheney face potential FBI charges—keeps the Republican agenda focused on preventing President-elect Donald Trump from being solely held responsible for the events of January 6.
“It was so singularly focused that basically Trump created this entire problem,” Loudermilk said, critiquing the former January 6 select committee spearheaded by Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney. “When in reality, it was a multitude of failures at different levels.”
Johnson has publicly pledged that the new January 6 investigation will be “fully funded.”
CNN reported, “Continuing its investigation into the previous January 6 select committee – which featured Cheney as a vice chair and had another Republican member – and broader security response to the Capitol attack is not the only way Republicans plan to use their new majority to carry over their previous investigations that remain politically charged.”
Additionally, the network noted, “Republicans re-issued subpoenas related to special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents and two Justice Department tax investigators who worked on the Hunter Biden case on Monday, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Those subpoenas would renew pursuits by the previous Congress that have been fought over in court – and not resolved – for months.”
This week, California Democrat Adam Schiff spoke about the January 6 committee and speculation surrounding President Joe Biden potentially pardoning him, Cheney, and others.
Schiff told CNN on Monday that he opposes Biden setting a “precedent” by issuing preemptive pardons for their roles on the House January 6 committee.
“It would be the wrong precedent to set. I don’t want to see each president hereafter on their way out the door giving out a broad category of pardons,” Schiff said during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash.
When asked about a more focused pardon, Schiff responded, “Well, and here I’m just speaking for myself, those of us that were on the Jan. 6 committee who [President-elect Trump] has put in the crosshairs, we’re all enormously proud of the work that we did.”
“We stand by it. We feel we have the protection of the Speech and Debate Clause. So, I — my own feeling is, let’s just avoid this kinda broad precedent,” he added.
Schiff further commented on Biden, stating, “I’m urging that he not go down that road,” while stopping short of saying he would outright reject such a pardon if it were offered.
Some Democrats have called on Biden to issue pardons to protect those targeted by Trump and his administration before leaving office.
“We’re back in this conundrum again, where a Democratic president can do things for a very good reason, a laudable reason, a legitimate reason — in this case, that people are being threatened improperly by an incoming president — but then that precedent can be abused,” Schiff said during his Monday CNN appearance.