David Corn: Why Republicans Are Right to Be Terrified of the 1/6 Investigation

[Nevilledog]

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David Corn
@DavidCornDC
Here's the start of my list of prominent Republicans who should be questioned by the new House select committee investigating the 1/6 attack. Read the whole list in the new issue of my #ThisLand newsletter:
https://link.motherjones.com/public/24409779

https://link.motherjones.com/public/24409779

There are many reasons why congressional Republicans blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6 insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol and why they can now be expected to try to delegitimize the work of the House select committee the Democrats have set up to probe that horrific assault waged by pro-Trump terrorists. The GOP base has been enthralled with and radicalized by Donald Trump’s Big Lie—two-thirds of Republicans in a recent poll said they don’t believe President Joe Biden won legitimately—and Republicans in Washington are not keen to do anything that challenges the bizarro worldview of their Trump-holden supporters. (Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, has suggested some of her GOP colleagues are too fearful for their safety to risk antagonizing Trump supporters.) And Trump, who certainly doesn’t want an inquiry, remains the center of gravity within the GOP and a fundraising force for the party. Piss him off and that could mean a loss of many votes and many millions of dollars for the party.

But there’s more. There is no way to investigate 1/6 without investigating Republicans—or, at least, demanding their testimony. One major aspect of the 1/6 probe must be how the White House responded to the riot and how Trump that day and in the months prior concocted and encouraged the grand deceptions that fueled the seditious violence. And, as it happens, some of the most important witnesses to all this were Republicans. (Federal investigators also have been examining whether any GOP members of Congress were in contact with the pro-Trump mob and wittingly or unwittingly assisted the insurrectionists.)

A few weeks ago, I drafted a preliminary list of Republicans who ought to be grilled in any worthwhile investigation. I’ve now come up with a longer list. Here it is:

* Former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). He was Trump’s White House chief of staff at the time and can explain what was happening at 1600 Pennsylvania during the violent raid on Congress. That includes Trump’s own actions during the assault he incited. Was Trump really excited, as CNN reported, to watch the violent throng try to stop the certification of the 2020 election?

* Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.). Ali Alexander, an organizer of the pro-Trump “Stop the Steal” movement, says that he worked with this trio of Trump devotees to create an event on January 6 that would put “maximum pressure” on Congress when it was voting to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. All three members should be grilled under oath. (Biggs and Brooks have denied this.)

*snip*

[Hortensis]

1. And the last name: "Donald Trump. Because it was his riot." nt

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[SoonerPride]

3. Who says they would show up?

Subpoenas are optional now.

[crickets]

4. K&R for visibility.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. I always thought it was kinda weird

that Gosar was opening his yap just as all this was exploding outside...like it was some kind of signal. He is beyond deplorable; he is reprehensible. When you're so bad your own family won't even speak to you and crafts and launches a campaign ad telling people not to vote for you, that says a LOT>

[kentuck]

6. I don't think it will take too many witnesses to get to the truth of the matter?

It should be pretty obvious what was going on, after the testimony of three or four witnesses, I would think? Of course, that would be determinant on them telling the truth under oath.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Interesting to see Kimberly Guilfoyle on that list...

Even more interesting, given the rumors that Trump is kind of fed up with her. It will be fun watching whether or not she gets kicked out of the Trump klan, and if so, does she turn on them.

[Generic Brad]

8. Can picture any of them honoring a congressional subpoena?

Pelosi better be prepared to hold them in contempt of Congress. I strongly doubt any of those 1/6 cowards will follow the law.

[erronis]

9. And what are the possible outcomes from a probable damning Select Committee report?

- A condensed sanitized synopsis fit for the news cycles? No blame assigned
- A condensed sanitized synopsis with a few mentions of "individual-1s" but no blame
- A still condensed synopsis with some names but skipping certain individuals, no real blame
- Condensed with names and some intimation of blame, but "Both Sides"
- .... (this is getting tedious)
- A full recounting of all individuals (congressional, executive), their roles and timelines, and blame

Where does this go except to the news outlets that will actually print it? (Not NewsMax, RU, Fox, Wash Times, etc.)

What possible legal and financial repercussions might ensue?

Is it time for popcorn or Dramamine?

[dmr]

10. I'd like to include those in Congress who may have

given tours, maps, plans or inside information about the Capitol building itself.

Due to Covid they no longer gave Capitol tours, yet some were seen doing just that in days leading up to the coup attempt.

Then what about during the insurrection?
One of the new reps tweeted the location of Nancy Pelosi. I'm thinking of either Marjorie Green or Lauren Somebody from Colorado.

The Republican congress is sick, toxic and dangerous. They will bitch and moan no matter what or how we investigate, so I say let's go into this deep and hard, spare no feelings.