House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to formally establish a new committee to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol—an effort Republicans say will dig deeper and wider than the inquiries conducted under the previous Congress.
The panel will be led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) and is expected to be a select committee, giving it broader flexibility in structure and membership. Speaker Johnson will have significant sway over who sits on the panel, a move Republicans believe will help steer the investigation toward what they argue were systemic failures across multiple government levels—not just the actions of former President Donald Trump.
Loudermilk says the framework is still being finalized, but the goal is clear: expand the GOP’s investigative reach at a time when Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.
Democrats, however, warn the renewed probe risks becoming a political weapon. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who served on the original January 6 select committee, has suggested he might reject any hypothetical pardon from President Biden—arguing that accepting one could be seen as an admission of guilt.
The issue of pardons looms large. While Biden’s clemency shields certain figures—including Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci—from criminal charges, legal experts note it does not excuse them from testifying if subpoenaed. In fact, some see these pardons as ensuring they remain compelled to appear before Congress under oath.
With tensions high and legal implications looming, the stage is set for another fierce Capitol Hill battle over one of the most polarizing events in modern American politics.