The House select committee investigating an attack on the Capitol building in the United States Capitol building, January 6, 2021 is extending the time that it will keep its inquiry open.
Originally slated to end in September, the January 6 committee — which was tasked with investigating the Capitol attack but has also delved into other related matters (including former President Donald Trump’s efforts to unjustly remain in office) — will instead operate indefinitely, chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) said.
The outcome of the midterm elections this year could affect the new deadline. Many are predicting that Republicans will take control of Congress if they win. the committee’s work could conclude as late as January 3, 2023. If Democrats are able to retain control of the House, however, the committee’s work could feasibly go beyond that date.
Thompson explained this week to reporters that the reason for the indefinite extension was because the committee continues receiving new evidence regarding its work.
“We’re just getting a significant amount of information we didn’t have access to. And so because of that, obviously, we can’t meet what we felt was an optimistic timeline,” Thompson said.
Another reason the committee is working beyond the September deadline is the positive public response the hearings have received, panel members said. New insights gained at each hearing have also motivated witnesses to come forward to the committee, to contact it with information that was either not available before or that reinforces their assertions regarding Trump’s attempt to disrupt the process to certify President Joe Biden as the winner in 2020.
It’s unclear whether the committee will hold more public hearings beyond September, though Thompson did acknowledge that he and other panel members would “have to do some additional public facing” regarding new evidence they may uncover. At least two more public hearings are set to happen — one this week, and an additional hearing in September to detail the committee’s work up to that point.
The September hearing was originally meant to detail the committee’s final report, but will instead feature a “scaled-back” interim report, Thompson said.
The next public hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. will preempt primetime programmingThat was to air on ABC, CBSAnd NBC. Fox It will allow each affiliate to decide whether or not to show the hearings.
Thursday’s hearing will focus on Trump’s actions on the day of the Capitol attack, and what his response was while the mob of his loyalists was violently interrupting Congress’s work. Trump’s behaviour will receive special attention. didn’t Act to stop the violence that was taking place in his name.
