On Jan. 6 attack, key Republicans act like they have something to hide
It's been about a week since House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened telecommunications companies, warning that "a Republican majority will not forget" if the private-sector leaders cooperate with the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack. The GOP leader added that the companies will be "in violation of federal law" if they provide materials to the bipartisan House select committee.
Even for McCarthy, the tactics were bizarre. For one thing, the law the Republican leader referenced does not appear to exist. For another, it was unsettling to see one of Congress' most powerful members — a man who may soon become House Speaker — actively try to undermine a federal investigation into an insurrectionist attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Washington Post's Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter in the Bush/Cheney White House, argued that McCarthy's threat "is probably a violation of House ethics rules, and maybe even a violation of federal law." The newspaper's editorial board added, "Mr. McCarthy should be defending Congress's prerogative to investigate, not trying to curb it with threats and bullying. His fevered reaction can only prompt questions about what he and members of the House GOP caucus seek to hide."
It was a provocative and underappreciated point. It's problematic enough to see congressional Republicans deliberately interfere with a bipartisan investigation they oppose, but the dynamic is made vastly worse by the prospect that some members of the House GOP may be concerned about secrets coming to light.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/maddow-blog-on-jan-6-attack-key-republicans-act-like-they-have-something-to-hide/ar-AAObBW4
= new reply since forum marked as read
