Jim Jordan Pushes for Investigation into Pelosi’s Role in January 6th, Accuses Previous Commission of Political Bias
Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is calling for a thorough investigation into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack, along with the actions of members from the Democratic-led commission that scrutinized the event. Jordan argues that the investigation was more about targeting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump than uncovering the truth about what happened on that fateful day.
Speaking briefly with CNN’s Manu Raju, Jordan wasted no time in criticizing the commission, which he believes was a “witch hunt” aimed at Trump. He suggested that Pelosi’s role in the events surrounding January 6th should be further investigated to understand what she knew and what actions she took leading up to the attack.
Here’s a transcript of the exchange:
RAJU: “Mr. Jordan, what do you hope to accomplish on the Republican side of this investigation?”
JORDAN: “You know what this is about. It’s about going after President Trump. The Democrats don’t want to talk about real issues like the rising crime rates in major cities, the border crisis, or the skyrocketing prices of everyday goods. They’ve got to distract from these pressing problems by focusing on attacking Trump for a third time.”
Jordan’s comments reflect a broader Republican strategy to continue investigations into the events of January 6th. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) revealed that Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to formalize a new committee specifically dedicated to further probing the Capitol attack, promising that it will be fully funded and driven by the Republicans’ priorities.
The new committee could provide Johnson more control over panel appointments and its overall direction. Loudermilk, who previously suggested that former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney should be investigated by the FBI, emphasized that the previous commission’s focus on Trump was narrow and failed to address a wider array of failures that led to the attack.
“The January 6th commission was laser-focused on blaming Trump, but there were multiple failures at different levels that need to be examined,” Loudermilk said.
As part of their ongoing investigations, Republicans have also reissued subpoenas related to special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, as well as ongoing tax investigations into Hunter Biden.
In related developments, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff is considering rejecting a pardon offered by President Biden to those involved in the January 6th investigation. Schiff, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, expressed concerns about accepting a pardon after years of criticizing others for doing so, particularly when it comes to admitting guilt.
Biden’s controversial pardons, which also included former Rep. Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, are part of an effort to preempt any potential retaliation from a Republican-led administration. However, legal experts have pointed out that the pardons would not shield recipients from being subpoenaed or compelled to testify under oath, and they would still face consequences if found to be lying under oath.
Federal litigation attorney Jesse Binnall noted that the pardons would not protect Cheney, Fauci, or others involved from facing consequences if they refuse to testify or provide false testimony during civil, criminal, or congressional hearings.
As the new investigation into January 6th heats up, the question of accountability remains at the forefront of Washington’s political debate.