Meanwhile, House Republicans just introduced a new Aviation Subcommittee. Its statutory mission is to thoroughly and openly examine the circumstances leading to and on that day. This newly formed panel, chaired by Representative Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, will seek to “uncover the full truth that is owed to the American people,” as stated by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The new subcommittee’s establishment comes after the now-defunct first January 6 subcommittee produced a detailed 845-page report in 2022. The House Committee’s report found that former President Donald Trump incited tens of thousands of his supporters to the Capitol. The Trump administration undertook this based on false allegations that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. Inside the chaos, Trump reportedly did nothing for several hours after hearing about it despite repeated pleas. He failed to instruct his violent supporters to go home and leave Capitol Hill.
The chamber’s new Republican-led subcommittee would have eight members. Johnson will be making these appointments, and he will work with Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries to choose no more than three. With full subpoena authority, Loudermilk will be able to compel witnesses to testify and demand documents needed for their investigation to be produced. This authority marks a procedural change as Republicans argue that the last Democratic-controlled committee was prejudiced against Trump.
After its creation, Democrats were quick to condemn the new subcommittee as a Republican partisan witch-hunt. They claim it is an effort to exonerate Trump and avoid the previous investigation’s outcomes. They urge you to stay in the spirit of accountability and away from the urge towards absolution.
On his first day in office, the new President couldn’t have been bolder. He pardoned 1,500 people complicit in the acts of January 6 with “full, complete and unconditional recommends” presidential pardons. This unprecedented and controversial action has initiated lively discussions about his accountability. It further begs the question as to what this means for those who participated in the attack.
Loudermilk thanked the committee for trusting him to lead such an important investigation. He recognized the continued debate around the rampant security failures of that day. Chief among them was a desire to resolve unanswered questions from the previous investigation, he noted.
“I’m grateful for speaker Johnson and my Republican colleagues for entrusting me to continue this important investigation into the events surrounding January 6, 2021.” – Barry Loudermilk
The deadline for the new subcommittee’s final report is December 31, 2026. This timeline allows ample opportunity for thorough examination and analysis of the events leading up to and following the Capitol attack.
Johnson’s statement on the issuance stressed just how critical this investigation will be. He announced that House Republicans were committed to finding the answers that, in his opinion, House Democrats have omitted.
“House Republicans remain intent on delivering the answers that House Democrats skipped over.” – Mike Johnson