Democrats barred minority appointments to their Select Committee on Jan. 6 that was established in June 2020. In their resolution to establish a Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government last month, Republicans welcomed minority appointments. The new committee’s first hearing on Thursday, however, dispelled any ideas that Democrats will participate in good faith.
Republican Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio kicked off the investigation aiming to implement desperately needed reforms of U.S. intelligence agencies.
“We expect to bring forward legislation that will protect the American people,” Jordan said in his opening statement. “We hope our Democrat colleagues will work with us.”
Democrats responded to the invitation with hyperbolic claims Republicans were chasing conspiracies. Democrats also used the hearing to demand Republicans disclose whistleblower reports, even though Democrats denied whistleblower reports to Republicans under Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s speakership.
After Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Johnson R-Wis., detailed gross collusion by the FBI and the corporate press to undermine congressional oversight of the federal intelligence apparatus for years, Maryland Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin complained Republicans were the ones “weaponizing” government.
“The odd name of the weaponization subcommittee constitutes a case of pure psychological projection,” Raskin said. “By establishing a select subcommittee, they’re telling us that Donald Trump’s followers, who obviously control this subcommittee, will continue weaponizing any part of the government they can get their hands on to attack their enemies defined as anyone who stands in the way of their quest for power.”
The
