A Republican oversight investigation has cast a shadow over former Congresswoman Liz Cheney's role in the January 6 Select Committee proceedings.
According to WFMZ, a newly released Republican report alleges that Cheney should face an FBI investigation for potential criminal activity, including witness tampering and possible involvement in procuring perjured testimony during her time as vice chair of the January 6 Select Committee.
The report, issued by the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight, specifically accuses Cheney of improper communications with witness Cassidy Hutchinson without her attorney's knowledge. Chairman Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., who spearheaded the investigation, suggests these actions may have violated federal laws, including 18 U.S.C. 1512 and 18 U.S.C. 1622.
The subcommittee's findings point to potentially serious breaches of legal protocol in the handling of witness testimony. Their investigation revealed concerns about how Hutchinson's testimony may have been influenced and whether she committed perjury under oath to the Select Committee.
Loudermilk's team, after examining thousands of hours of video footage and millions of documents, uncovered what they describe as troubling patterns in the investigation's conduct. The report highlights missing documents, deleted files, and unaccounted video footage among the irregularities discovered during their review.
From the report, Chairman Loudermilk states:
Over the past twenty-four months of this investigation, my subcommittee staff have faced incredible obstacles in pursuit of the truth; missing and deleted documents, hidden evidence, unaccounted for video footage, and uncooperative bureaucrats.
The situation has drawn attention from prominent political figures on both sides of the aisle. Now, President-elect Donald Trump has suggested committee members should face jail time for their actions during the investigation.
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has reportedly urged President Biden to consider issuing preemptive pardons for committee members. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious political situation.
Cheney's response to Trump's jail threats notably focused on Trump's role in the January 6 events rather than addressing the allegations against her. The former congresswoman has yet to directly respond to the specific claims made in the new Republican report.
A comprehensive analysis of the January 6 events emerged from the investigation, highlighting multiple failures at various governmental levels. The report identified two key factors contributing to the security breakdown at the Capitol: excessive political influence on critical decisions and prioritizing optics over safety measures.
This marks Loudermilk's second major report on the January 6 incident. His initial findings focused on security lapses at the Capitol, examining the chain of events that led to the breach of the complex.
The FBI's involvement remains a critical point of contention, as the bureau has reportedly refused to produce vital documents requested by the subcommittee, including the FBI report 302 documenting Hutchinson's interview statements.
The House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight has presented detailed allegations against former Representative Liz Cheney regarding her conduct during the January 6 Select Committee investigation. The report accuses her of witness tampering and potentially inducing perjured testimony from key witness Cassidy Hutchinson. These accusations have escalated into calls for an FBI investigation, with Republican leadership seeking further examination of communication records and witness testimony procedures.
