House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced plans to officially create a new committee to revisit the events of January 6, 2021—the day the U.S. Capitol was stormed. This fresh investigation will be led by Republican Congressman Barry Loudermilk of Georgia and is part of a broader GOP effort to expand upon the inquiries launched during the previous session of Congress.
With Republicans now holding the majority in both chambers and the White House, they see an opportunity to drive their investigative priorities forward. Loudermilk shared that while the committee is still taking shape, it’s likely to be a “select committee,” meaning it would have more flexibility in structure and member selection—with Speaker Johnson playing a major role in who sits on the panel.
Loudermilk has been a central figure in the GOP’s perspective on January 6, arguing that the incident was the result of systemic failures at multiple government levels—not solely the responsibility of former President Donald Trump, as many Democrats have claimed.
Meanwhile, some Democrats are raising red flags about where these renewed investigations might be headed. Senator Adam Schiff, who served on the original January 6 committee, recently made headlines by suggesting he would reject a pardon from President Biden, stressing that accepting one could imply guilt. Schiff has long opposed the idea of politically motivated pardons and warned they could have legal implications for those still under scrutiny.
Legal experts agree: even with a pardon, individuals can still be compelled to testify under oath if subpoenaed. That could include figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney or Dr. Anthony Fauci—both of whom reportedly received pardons from Biden. While those pardons shield them from criminal prosecution, they don’t protect them from being called to testify or facing other legal actions.
Ultimately, this new committee could reignite a contentious chapter in American politics, with legal and political implications still unfolding as Republicans chart their next steps.