Will You Watch the Production by the Select Committee about January 6th?

            A Select Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives has been investigating what happened at the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. The panel is set to present its findings in several prime time nationally televised hearings. The first one will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022. The packaged hearing is being touted as a “network special.”

Some people call the event on January 6 a riot, while others call it an insurrection. Whatever you choose to call it, it took place more than 500 days ago. Hundreds of people entered the Capitol Building, some of them entered after being waved in by Capitol police officers. Some of the people should be punished for what they did, but there were many innocent people involved.

The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol – the official committee title – has seven Democrat members and two Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) blocked the choices put forth by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and put two Republicans of her choice on the partisan panel. Most of the work done by the committee has been done behind closed doors.

Fred Lucas posted an article on The Daily Signal in which he discussed six points to know before watching the “network special.” The presentation will include video excerpts of testimonies previously taken and photos and video that the public has not previously seen.

Lucas’s first point is a question if the event was a ‘Conspiracy’ or ‘Trump Operation.’ Members of the committee, including the two Republicans, have hopes of pinning responsibility for the entrance into the Capitol on President Donald Trump. However, Trump claims that he authorized 10,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to the Capitol grounds prior to his January 6 rally. It seems odd that he would authorize the troops, knowing that they would stop any insurrection. Critics claim that Pelosi has responsibility to protect the Capitol Building and refused to have troops on the grounds.

Lucas’s second point is the fate of the Electoral College. Two committee members are clashing about what the committee should suggest concerning the Electoral College. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) desires to abolish the Electoral College, while Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) is dragging her feet on the suggestion. She thinks that “the committee will burn its credibility if it pushes for radical changes like abolishing the Electoral College.”

Lucas’s third point concerns Trump staffers and contempt charges. Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro was publicly arrested with handcuffs and leg irons as he was about to board an airplane. Although he was not at the Capitol Building on January 6th, the committee charged him with contempt of Congress. The arrest is a show of power with a desire to embarrass Navarro as much as possible. Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump social media director Dan Scavino will not be charged with criminal contempt of Congress.

Lucas’s fourth point is that members of the Trump family have voluntarily cooperated with the committee. Donald Trump Jr., his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner have all met with the committee.

Lucas’s fifth point is that Pence staffers have participated with the committee.

Lucas’s sixth and last point is that a group of Republicans will release findings about the event at the Capitol Building on January 6^th – even though blocked from the select committee. Their report will be released in “a matter of weeks” and may take place before the final “network special” is put on by the select committee.

            Most major news outlets will air the “network special,” but Fox has noted that it will not waste their airtime on it. Like most attempts by Democrats to “get” Donald Trump, I expect that the reports by the selective committee to blow up in their faces. I expect Liz Cheney to realize that she made a big mistake by joining the committee fight against Trump.