Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
This week, conservatives in the House created a special-appointed panel tasked with investigating allegations that the Biden administration used federal agencies as a cudgel against political opponents.
The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government will be led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and have the authority to investigate the FBI, Homeland Security, Justice Department, and other agencies that Republicans have accused of targeting conservatives.
“DOJ targeted parents protesting at school board meetings,” Jordan tweeted. “The FBI paid Twitter $3 million to censor conservatives. DHS tried to set up a ‘disinformation governance board.’”
On Twitter, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) made a more direct statement of Republicans’ goals.
“The Deep State is on notice,” Bishop wrote. “To any bureaucrat who violates Americans’ Constitutional rights — we’re coming for you, on behalf of the American people.”
🚨 The Deep State is on notice.
To any bureaucrat who violates Americans' Constitutional rights – we're coming for you, on behalf of the American people. pic.twitter.com/fZA2qK1klz
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) January 10, 2023
In the post, Bishop included a clip of him speaking on the House floor.
We entrust our Department of Justice, FBI, and intelligence community with great power to keep us safe, and yet, as long as these agencies have existed, they’ve violated Americans’ civil rights — everyday Americans. The security state believes itself to be above the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress.
BIPARTISAN REPRESENTATION
The new panel will be like the Jan. 6 committee in many ways, not least of which is having the power to subpoena witnesses and a wide swath of investigative power, but there will likely be one major difference.
Whereas the Jan. 6 committee was composed of mostly Democrats, as well as two Republicans who were in general agreement with the left as to the facts of Jan. 6, the Government Weaponization Committee will feature opposition voices.
Although no members have been announced, the committee will consist of nine Republicans and six Democrats.
Several Democrats have said they will participate in the work of the committee, even if they accuse Republicans of creating the panel for nefarious purposes.
“It’s in our best interest to make sure we are representing the will of the caucus and the American public, and that Republicans don’t have an opportunity behind closed doors to shape and to add to these conspiracy theories,” House Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Pete Aguilar of California told CBS News.
In the same CBS article, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said “Democrats won’t back down from defending our noble public servants.”
Earlier in the week, Connolly tweeted, “Today’s vote to create a GOP Select Committee is nothing more than an effort by those who incited January 6th to demagogue and intimidate noble civil servants who didn’t pledge fealty to Donald Trump. It will [prove] nothing but the GOP’s own hypocrisy and extremism.”
It remains to be seen if a full complement of Democrats eventually joins the committee. Numerous Republicans refused to participate in the Jan. 6 committee, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused to seat other Republicans, among them Jordan, who wished to serve.
New Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) supported the creation of the committee but has given no indication if he would prevent outspoken Democrats from serving.
As of Thursday, McCarthy had only gone so far as to state that Republicans’ primary goal was to scrutinize federal agencies and the Biden administration.
“The American people put Republicans in charge of the House of Representatives to bring accountability to Washington,” McCarthy tweeted. “It is our Constitutional duty to follow the truth wherever it leads, and we will get answers.”