In a theatrical performance the worst thing that can happen is to have a predictable outcome. That is precisely what occurred with the Jan. 6 Committee, which has referred former President Donald Trump to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution on four counts — “influencing or impeding an official proceeding of the U.S. government”, “conspiring to defraud the U.S”, “unlawfully, knowingly or willingly making false statements to the federal government”, and “assisting or engaging in insurrection against the United States” in relation to the Jan. 6. 2021 Capitol riot.
As a Wall Street Journal editorial noted, the recommendations — indeed the 18-month-long exercise — “has all the legal force of an interoffice memo.” The recommendations seem redundant and premature given the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith to investigate the Capitol riot and Trump’s role in it.
One can oppose Donald Trump’s run for president in 2024, while still questioning the way the House committee conducted itself. First, it was made up entirely of anti-Trump Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans. The outcome was never in doubt. Second, the entire proceeding was well-crafted with the assistance of former ABC News president James Goldston. Members read their statements from a teleprompter. Third, there was no cross-examination of the many witnesses. Fourth, not a single member of the panel or a witness spoke in defense of Trump.
While new information was revealed, if the panel had any interest in earning credibility with Trump supporters it failed.
The argument among Trump supporters has been that while the former president may have serious flaws, he did many good things. These included keeping inflation low, adding, 458 miles of new construction to our existing border wall, negotiating the Abraham Accords, and low gas prices. They reason that the good he did outweighed his caustic personality and erratic behavior.