Liz Cheney might be resting easy after receiving a pardon from Joe Biden and a shiny Presidential Citizens Award to go with it, but if she thinks her political troubles are behind her, she’s sorely mistaken. House Republicans, under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, are reigniting the fight to uncover the truth about the January 6 Select Committee’s actions, and this time, the gloves are off.
On Wednesday, Speaker Johnson announced the formation of a new January 6 subcommittee under the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan. This isn’t just a reshuffling of committee responsibilities—it’s a significant escalation. The new “Select Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee” will not only revisit the events of January 6 but will also dig deeper into what many conservatives have called the corruption, misconduct, and outright manipulation by the previous Democrat-led J6 Select Committee.
“House Republicans are proud of our work so far in exposing the false narratives peddled by the politically motivated January 6 Select Committee during the 117th Congress, but there is still more work to be done,” Johnson said. He promised the new subcommittee would uncover “the full truth that is owed to the American people,” signaling that Republicans are ready to go further than before.
What a complete joke and utter embarrassment.
Biden is foolishly giving an award to members of Congress who intentionally and repeatedly lied to the American people?!
The Jan 6 Select Committee manipulated AND destroyed evidence – created a fake, phony narrative all to try… https://t.co/1Liogwj0g6
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 3, 2025
This announcement comes on the heels of Biden’s pardons for those involved with the original J6 Select Committee, including Cheney. While Biden’s move may have been intended to shield Cheney and her colleagues from legal consequences, it appears to have only galvanized House Republicans. If anything, Biden’s pardons have thrown gasoline on an already roaring fire, intensifying GOP efforts to expose what they believe were blatant abuses of power and potential criminal activity by Cheney and her allies.
It’s no secret that Republicans have long accused the January 6 Select Committee of operating as a partisan witch hunt designed to harm former President Donald Trump. Johnson and Jordan are now determined to dismantle the narratives built by Cheney and the Democrats during the last Congress. Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast the previous committee for “manipulat[ing] AND destroy[ing] evidence” and creating a “fake, phony narrative all to try and hurt Trump.” He added, “Be assured of this: House Republicans WILL continue our investigation into this corrupt committee, and it will be FULLY FUNDED.”
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who chaired the old oversight subcommittee and will now lead the new investigation, has already raised serious questions about the conduct of the original J6 Committee. Findings from the previous GOP-led investigation suggest that not only were the January 6 events preventable but that Cheney herself may have tampered with a witness. Loudermilk is expected to work closely with Jordan to shine a brighter light on these allegations, potentially uncovering more wrongdoing as the investigation moves forward.
I appreciate @SpeakerJohnson’s commitment to our work, and I am looking forward to working with Chairman @Jim_Jordan to continue to uncover all the facts and begin the arduous task of making needed reforms to ensure this level of security failure may never happen again. https://t.co/nCnHlZF8ar
— Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) January 22, 2025
The move to place the J6 investigation under the Judiciary Committee is particularly significant. As the committee responsible for overseeing the administration of justice and investigating potential misconduct, its involvement gives the new subcommittee more teeth. Jordan’s leadership ensures that the investigation will focus not only on the events of January 6 but also on the conduct of those who sought to weaponize the tragedy for political gain.
Republicans have made it clear that Cheney, despite her Presidential Citizens Award and Biden’s pardon, will not escape scrutiny. The GOP is determined to hold her and others accountable for what they believe was a gross misuse of taxpayer money and a deliberate attempt to manipulate public opinion. Jordan praised Loudermilk for his leadership, saying, “We look forward to helping him bring all the facts to the American people.”
For Cheney, the timing couldn’t be worse. Once a rising star in the Republican Party, her staunch opposition to Trump and her role in the January 6 Committee have left her politically isolated. Her pardon from Biden may protect her from legal consequences for now, but it has also further entrenched her as a symbol of everything the GOP is fighting against: political corruption, partisan witch hunts, and the use of government power to silence dissent.