- The GOP report, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, accuses former Vice Chair Liz Cheney of criminal misconduct, including allegedly tampering with a key witness and encouraging perjury.
- The report claims Cheney secretly communicated with star witness Cassidy Hutchinson without her attorney’s knowledge, violating federal law and undermining the legislative process.
- If proven, Cheney’s alleged actions could carry severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison, and raise questions about the integrity of the Jan. 6 investigation.
- Cheney dismisses the report as a “malicious and cowardly assault on the truth,” arguing it ignores the committee’s extensive evidence and testimony from Republican witnesses.
- The GOP report highlights the committee’s alleged politicization, evidence failures, and claims of improper coordination between the committee and Special Counsel Jack Smith, further fueling divisions within the Republican Party.
In a stunning rebuke to the now-disbanded House Jan. 6 Committee, Republicans have released a damning interim report that not only highlights the preventable nature of the Capitol riot but also accuses former Vice Chair Liz Cheney of criminal misconduct. The 128-page document, spearheaded by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, chairman of the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee, calls for the FBI to investigate Cheney for allegedly tampering with a key witness and potentially encouraging perjury.
The report’s findings are nothing short of explosive. It accuses Cheney of secretly communicating with Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide and star witness during the committee’s nationally televised hearings, without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge. Such actions, the report argues, not only violate federal law but also undermine the integrity of the legislative process. The GOP subcommittee contends that Cheney’s actions fall outside the protections of the Speech and Debate Clause, which shields lawmakers from legal repercussions for their legislative work.
The implications of these accusations are profound. If substantiated, Cheney’s alleged tampering could carry severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison. The report also alleges that Cheney encouraged Hutchinson to provide false testimony, particularly regarding a handwritten document and claims that former President Donald Trump attempted to commandeer his limousine on Jan. 6. These allegations are bolstered by the fact that Secret Service testimony directly contradicted Hutchinson’s sensational claims.
Cheney, however, has vehemently denied the accusations, dismissing the report as a “malicious and cowardly assault on the truth.” In a statement, she argued that the GOP’s interim report “intentionally disregards the truth and the Select Committee’s tremendous weight of evidence.” She pointed to the committee’s exhaustive investigation, which included testimony from numerous Republican witnesses, including senior officials from Trump’s administration.
But the GOP’s report goes further, alleging evidence of collusion between Special Counsel Jack Smith and the Jan. 6 committee. The subcommittee claims that Smith’s release of unredacted transcripts from the committee’s interviews suggests improper coordination, further tainting the investigation’s credibility.
The Jan. 6 investigation was biased
The interim report also highlights broader failures of the Jan. 6 committee, including its failure to preserve significant evidence — over one terabyte of data, including missing witness interview videos. It accuses the committee of politicizing the investigation, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s multimillion-dollar effort described as a “political weapon” aimed at deceiving the public and tarnishing Trump’s legacy.
Rep. Loudermilk, in a personal letter to his House colleagues, implored them to help reverse the trend of misleading Americans for political gain. “Americans expect and deserve a government that is small in size, limited in scope, and fully accountable to the people,” he wrote. “Transparency, accountability, and equal application of the law are the only solutions to return our nation to one that is free, safe, and full of opportunity.”
The report’s release comes at a critical juncture, as President-elect Trump prepares to install loyalists in key positions at the Justice Department and FBI. The GOP’s call for a criminal investigation into Cheney, while likely facing significant legal challenges, underscores the deep divisions within the Republican Party over the events of Jan. 6 and the subsequent investigations.
For now, the battle lines are drawn. Cheney, who has emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal critics, stands accused of undermining the rule of law. Meanwhile, Republicans argue that the Jan. 6 committee’s failures have left unanswered questions about the Capitol riot and the role of those in power. As the nation awaits the next steps, one thing is clear: the legacy of Jan. 6 continues to be a flashpoint in American politics, with no easy resolution in sight.
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