House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced on Wednesday that House Republicans will initiate their own investigation into the contentious January 6 select committee, whose members have faced various allegations of misconduct. In a controversial decision made on his final day in office, former President Biden granted pardons to all committee members, including former U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney.
Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) will lead a new select subcommittee that will operate under the House Judiciary Committee. Loudermilk has previously conducted a separate inquiry into the January 6 Capitol protests and the now-disbanded January 6 committee, which was under the jurisdiction of the House Administration Committee. He has consistently urged Speaker Johnson to initiate a formal investigation in the current congressional session.
As this new investigation is designated as a “select” committee, Speaker Johnson will possess the exclusive authority to determine which House members will be appointed to the panel. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) did not permit Republicans to select their own members for the previous January 6 Committee, a decision that deviated from long-standing House traditions.
