The House Republican who conducted a tour of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021, fueling Democratic concerns about “reconnaissance” before riots, could wind up in charge of the GOP’s inquiry into the select committee on January 6.
The Details
During his tour of the Capitol complex on January 5, during which participants snapped pictures of stairwells and other areas not generally of interest to tourists, Rep. Barry Loudermilk finds himself in the sights of the select panel.
In the event that the GOP gains control of Congress, Loudermilk told Politico he would be interested in leading the House Administration Subcommittee and using it to investigate the Jan. 6 panel and Capitol security.
After Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, who lost his race last week, Loudermilk is the most veteran Republican on the panel; the chair is up for grabs.
The Secret Service has begun producing records pursuant to the subpoena we issued last week and our investigators are assessing that information.
We have concerns about a system migration that we have been told resulted in the erasure of Secret Service cell phone data.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) July 20, 2022
Many Republican politicians are eager to use a prospective 2023 majority to overturn the Jan. 6 panel.
This is because GOP leadership decided to boycott the panel last year after Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down some of their nominees, which prevented them from putting Donald Trump-approved voices on the dais during the high-profile investigation.
Since Davis’ aspirations were curtailed, Loudermilk is vying for the position. The personal animosity he could bring to the select committee’s investigation threatens to provide additional political difficulties for its members.
Loudermilk said there was no conflict of interest since “I did nothing wrong, and they know it.”
Loudermilk also stated, “We need to be sure that we hold ourselves responsible for the norms that we have in this school.
A Nothingburger
The committee presented proof that one of the tour attendees afterward went to the Capitol on January 6 and made a menacing video message intended for Democratic lawmakers.
The commission has not charged Loudermilk with any misconduct.
He has denied any knowledge of such action and even filed an ethics investigation against a group of Democratic peers who claimed potential “reconnaissance excursions” may have taken place prior to the disturbance.
A 69-year-old cancer patient was sent to prison because she walked into the Capitol on January 6, but the nine Late Show with Stephen Colbert staffers arrested for unlawful entry inside a congressional building will not be prosecuted. We have a two-tier justice system in America.
— Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) July 21, 2022
He is not the only Republican congressman mentioned by the committee on January 6.
Investigators described information they heard during one of their open sessions, which suggested some House Republicans asked the Trump administration for pardons.
Though none of those Republicans are volunteering to head up inquiries into the panel in the upcoming year.
Loudermilk said he already expressed interest in the baton of the administration committee to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is the overwhelming favorite to become House Speaker if Republicans take control of the House.
McCarthy said they are “looking at everything” when asked if he would back Loudermilk’s attempt to chair the panel the following year.
McCarthy stated in a brief interview that “Mr. Loudermilk worked hard on it,” despite the fact other candidates for the job have expressed interest.
This article appeared in Conservative Cardinal and has been published here with permission.
