Special Poll
On Tuesday, Republicans issued a report assessing what they described as the shortcomings and biased actions of the now-dissolved House January 6 committee. This report culminated in a recommendation for a criminal investigation into Liz Cheney, the former Republican Representative from Wyoming.
The 128-page report reiterates several assertions previously made by the GOP since the formation of the committee. It criticizes the committee for being improperly established and for unjustly assigning blame to then President-elect Donald Trump. According to the report, “Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s multimillion-dollar Select Committee served as a political tool, singularly aimed to mislead the public into blaming President Trump for the January 6 violence and to smear his presidential legacy.”
Moreover, the report concludes with a call for the FBI to investigate Cheney, alleging she engaged in witness tampering through her communications with Cassidy Hutchinson, a key witness and former White House aide.
This recommendation, if pursued, would likely encounter substantial legal obstacles, especially as Trump has suggested that members of the January 6 panel should face imprisonment for their roles.
Cheney has vehemently criticized the panel’s report, stating, “January 6th revealed the true character of Donald Trump – a spiteful and vengeful individual who allowed violent attacks to proceed against our Capitol and law enforcement officers, all while he sat back, watched television, and delayed directing his supporters to cease and withdraw,” highlighting the numerous Republican testimonies presented before the committee.
Cheney also noted the biased nature of the ‘Interim Report’ by Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), which she argues blatantly ignores the facts and evidence presented by the Select Committee, instead choosing to propagate falsehoods and slanderous claims in an effort to shield Trump’s actions.
The central issue of the report revolves around Cheney’s interactions with Hutchinson, who had switched legal representation before deciding to testify in a significant hearing. Initially, Hutchinson’s lawyer, Stefan Passantino, allegedly advised her to claim minimal recollection of the events of the day, suggesting it would position her favorably within Trump’s circle.
The report also highlights text exchanges between Hutchinson and Alyssa Farah Griffin, another former White House aide, accusing Farah Griffin of facilitating a covert communication link between the two.
Furthermore, it mentions Hutchinson’s subsequent contact with Cheney, who reportedly advised Hutchinson in her book to obtain legal counsel, asserting that “every witness deserves an attorney who will solely represent their interests.”
The possibility of an investigation into Cheney could prompt a host of additional legal inquiries, including whether her committee actions are shielded by the Speech or Debate Clause, which protects legislators from litigation related to their official duties.
The interim report also touches on ethical concerns regarding a Congress member contacting a represented witness during an investigation and critiques Loudermilk, who had been previously examined by the disbanded committee for giving Capitol tours to individuals who later joined the January 6 march.
Despite the controversies, Cheney has praised the thoroughness of the January 6 Committee’s proceedings, which included extensive testimonies from numerous Republican officials from Trump’s administration. The findings were detailed in an exhaustive 800-page report, all made public to ensure transparency.
Loudermilk has expressed hopes that a new select committee will be established in the following Congress to better assess Capitol security, expressing concerns over the current safety measures in place since the events of January 6.