Member-only story
Criminal Referrals To The DOJ And . . . It’s A Wrap*
Recall that Senate Republicans filibustered efforts to create a bicameral commission to investigate the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. In McConnell’s political calculation, a 9–11 style commission to investigate what happened and why and recommend specific measures Congress should take to prevent future such events would make the GOP’s overtaking the House and Senate in the next mid-terms less probable. It stands as metaphor for a shrinking minority’s continuing pull on every lever to gain and hold power, including averting its eyes.
It is impossible to know how Republicans would have fared in the 2022 midterms had the GOP voted for and been fully invested in a serious bipartisan commission to investigate January 6 and plug the holes a traitorous leader and administration found and exploited. Sometimes voters, in fact, reward officials and parties for governing, viz., recognizing, investigating, and correcting problems — even those of their own making. Having blown a hole in the hull, the GOP missed yet another opportunity to steady the perilously listing ship, after the two opportunities it rejected with impeachment acquittals. Death by a thousand cuts.
The House then passed a Resolution to form a bipartisan select committee to investigate January 6. House Republicans challenged the legitimacy of the House Select…