OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes is demanding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi answer why U.S. Capitol Police did not take extra precautions before the incident nearly 18 months ago.
During an interview on Newsmax’s “Spicer & Co.,” Nunes, a former Republican congressman, was joined by Kash Patel, a former aide to Nunes when he chaired the House Intelligence Committee. Later, Patel became a top official in former President Donald Trump’s White House.
“There was intelligence ahead of time that the Capitol Police should have known – which clearly Kash over at the White House, they knew, which is why President Trump authorized National Guard troops,” Nunes began.
“You know there are tens of thousands of people coming, and you do nothing? And this is the question Nancy Pelosi is going to have to answer because the payback is going to be a ‘you-know-what’ if Republicans are successful this November,” he added.
For his part, Patel argued that as chief of staff of the Defense Department under Trump, his department “acted appropriately” based on the information it had leading up to the event.
“The American people have a right to know … how we acted appropriately on Jan. 4, 5, and 6 to include President Trump’s authorization of the National Guard that Nancy Pelosi and [Washington, D.C.] Mayor [Muriel] Bowser refused,” Patel pointed out.
Republicans upset that several of their own members have been subpoenaed by the committee are planning to turn up the heat on Pelosi.
In February 2021, just weeks after the incident, a group of four Republicans sent Pelosi a letter asking why she did not do more to protect the Capitol, including requesting National Guard deployments and a bulked-up Capitol Police presence.
But Pelosi, at least publicly, did not respond to the members’ letter requesting explanations.
Instead, her hand-picked committee has issued subpoenas to several Republican members who are also vehement supporters of Trump, which has led several of them to vow to investigate on their own if the party takes control of the chamber in the November midterms.
CNN reported:
House Republicans, furious that five of their own have been subpoenaed by the January 6 select committee, are discussing their own plans to retaliate if they win back the majority: Issuing subpoenas to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats.
Several rank-and-file Republicans, likely committee chairmen and members of the party leadership told CNN on Friday that the January 6 panel’s subpoenas to House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy and four other Republicans create a new standard they may ultimately choose to replicate in a potential GOP majority next Congress.
At the top of the list: Pelosi, whom Republicans say they plan to target over her communications regarding security matters in the run-up to January 6 and as the riot was unfolding in the Capitol.
“I’m gonna tell you the truth: Yes, I do,” said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) when asked if he believes Republicans should issue a subpoena to Pelosi.
“This is setting the precedent, and we’re just not gonna lie down and let this happen. There are serious questions about her role on January 6 and exactly what she did and what she didn’t do. And we need to get to the bottom of that,” Carter added.
Several other Republicans also told the network that there is broad support for issuing a subpoena to Pelosi, who some have speculated would retire if she lost the speakership.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a subpoena there,” said Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, who has called for an investigation into Pelosi over her role, went off earlier this year when discussing the committee approving a criminal contempt report to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress.
“There’s been subpoenas issued to 11 individuals, 11 American citizens who asked the government permission on an application to hold the Trump rally,” Jordan said.
“And why would they subpoena me? I didn’t do anything wrong — I talked to the president,” said Jordan. “I talk to the president all the time. I just think that’s — you know where I’m at on this commission — this is all about going after President Trump. That seems obvious.”
“This is scary where they want to go and what they’re doing to Americans’ constitutional rights. And finally, I would ask the fundamental question, how would you expect witnesses to participate when you wouldn’t let Republicans participate in the committee? How can you do that? We know what this is about, it’s plain and simple, this is about they’ve got nothing else to talk about,” he said.
