September 3, 2021 |
In Washington, Democrats have made Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney co-chair of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th melee at the Capitol Building. The panel has so far held one only hearing, where Cheney said the panel is working to uncover the facts.
Controversy continues to hound the committee. Although the it bills itself as non-partisan because of the presence of the Wyoming congresswoman and one other Republican, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi barred several other GOP House members from sitting on the panel. The credibility of the panel also has been called into question because it has not requested the release of hundreds of hours of video that some say would exonerate those remain incarcerated nearly eight months after the event. It is also unclear whether the panel will explore questions about the role the FBI played in instigating the events of January 6. However, the committee announced this week that it is looking into the phone and email records of House Republicans in the days and weeks prior to the unrest at the Capitol to assess any potential involvement.
Meanwhile, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is calling on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to remove Cheney and the other Republican serving on the Jan. 6 committee, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, from the House Republican Conference. Removal from the caucus could spell more trouble for Cheney’s campaign in next year’s mid-term election in Wyoming.
