I’ve actually been pretty impressed with the House Jan 6th Committee, and it seems that the Jan 6th committee is trying to sort out how to deal with House GOP members who had— shall we say? — “contacts” with Trump and his cronies before and on Jan 6th. You might think this would include subpoenas for recalcitrant Republican Congress Critters. However, it’s hard to tell what the committee will do;this is because we have the infuriating narrative from Politico of “Beware Of Pissing of Republicans! They Will Hold Power Soon!” obscuring things.
There’s only a few weeks left until the lawmakers investigating the Capitol attack intend to hold their first public hearing — and they’re redoubling their focus on how their own GOP colleagues may have helped Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
Recent court filings, subpoenas and conversations with members of the Jan. 6 select committee show they’re homing in on interactions that Republican members had with Trump and his allies in the weeks preceding the riot.
One critical pressure point is the committee’s search for communications between members of Congress and John Eastman, the attorney who helped craft Trump’s last-ditch legal strategy to prevent Joe Biden from taking office. Investigators are pressing Eastman to prioritize turning over emails to or about members of Congress and their staffs, including 14 GOP lawmakers specifically identified by the committee.
Yes, Chairman Thompson had an earlier interview where he said the Committe had information that several members of Congress had been in contact with Trump and his cronies. I got that. But it appears that Thompson has been giving those Republicans an “opportunity” to come in explain to the Committee what they were talking about with Trump. And I know Thompson has to be smart enough to know that none of those bastards are going to appear before the committee to answer any questions.
The continuing interest in specific lawmakers’ involvement in the Trump effort comes as the committee is still grappling with whether to take the historic step of subpoenaing sitting members — although its chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) has cast doubt on whether that will be feasible. Thompson confirmed this week that no decision had been made, saying he’s still trying to convince GOP lawmakers to give their side of the story rather than allowing records that reflect negatively on them to stand on their own.
“Why would you want to be noted in that light rather than explaining your side?” Thompson told reporters Tuesday. “It’s important, and that’s why we’ve asked them to come in voluntarily.”
I suppose this may be a smart political move. You give every chance for those Republican pricks to come in and give their side of the story. You are being fair and reasonable. Great.
And when Republicans give the Committee the middle finger, what will the Committee do then? Most of those scheming bastards have already told the Committee to “Fuck Off!” Sounds like you would need to subpoena the pricks.
Here is the part where Media spin comes in:
The continued focus on GOP lawmakers creates a difficult balancing act for the select committee. Its members have spent weeks weighing how aggressively to directly target their own colleagues, knowing that Republicans stand a strong chance of retaking the House next year and responding in kind.
This is the big warning sign from Republicans that they will go after Democrats when they win the House in the midterm elections. Play nice Democrats, or else you get it when we hold power! So no subpoenas for any Congressional Republican!
Newsflash to Politico and any reluctant Democrat on the Jan 6th Committee: THEY ARE ALREADY GOING TO GO AFTER DEMOCRATS NO MATTER WHAT THE FUCK YOU DO!
Sorry folks. I’m just so over this. We are in a political war. Republicans declared one on Democrats years ago. The Media just loves to push Democrats into appeasement when our Democracy is in real danger. And I think Democrats need to bite the bullet and subpoena the likes of Gym Jordan.
Now, the Politico article did have one bit of information that I had not previously heard before:
As the subpoena question lingers, the select panel continues to haul in information that could shed more light on GOP lawmakers’ actions to support Trump’s push.
On Thursday, for example, they’re slated to obtain documents related to a December 2020 lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) against then-Vice President Mike Pence. Those documents, held by the National Archives, are expected to describe Trump White House involvement in the lawsuit, in which Gohmert attempted to force Pence to reveal whether he would single-handedly try to overturn the election, as Trump was demanding.
Pence remained quiet about his intentions until the last possible moment, and reports suggest Trump was supportive of Gohmert’s ratcheting up the pressure on the then-vice president.
I missed this news from earlier. I knew Gohmert was screaming about people needing to come to D.C. because of the Big Lie, but I didn’t know that Gohmert had filed a lawsuit against Mike Pence. And this is sitting in the National Archives??
And there is more information on other deplorables likes Matt Gaetz on this very same topic:
Another episode — which garnered little attention — includes lawmakers directly trying to convince Pence to take action on Jan. 6 as lawmakers prepared to certify President Joe Biden’s win, according to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). He described the meeting during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last month, though the exact date of the incident is unclear.
“We put forward arguments and affidavits and evidence. We showed him videos,” Gaetz said. ”We were in the Cabinet Room meeting with Mike Pence in the days leading up to January 6, and I left quite disappointed that he was not motivated by our argument.”
That meeting may be the only known direct contact between Pence and lawmakers supportive of Trump’s effort in the final weeks of the Trump presidency. Gaetz declined to elaborate when asked for details about the meeting and the names of other attendees.
I know that a subpoena to any congressman will be “precedent setting.” But we had an insurrection folks on Jan 6th. We are under threat of continued political violence. And if a subpoena goes out to any congressman, they will pull a Trump and go to court. Check. I understand that.
But we in are in dangerous times. Issuing a subpoena to a Jan 6th conspirator is not breaking some precious BS rule (like the Senate filibuster). It’s a legal tool to find the facts. And Republicans are not going to provide any facts when it comes to their roles in the Jan 6th insurrection.
Just do it.