U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is making clear that he will defy a subpoena he received from the House committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The defiance will escalate a standoff with the panel over his testimony, and that of Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks who’s in a runoff to be the Republican nominee to replace Richard Shelby in the U.S. Senate. The committee now will have to decide whether it will enforce its actions. The panel is looking to wrap up its investigation and prepare for public hearings in early June. It is unclear if members will refer the lawmakers to the House ethics committee or explore taking the unprecedented step of filing contempt of Congress charges against sitting members of its chamber.
The January 6th committee's decision to subpoena McCarthy, Brooks, and three other sitting GOP members of Congress is considered remarkable. The action was taken to prompt testimony over the insurrection at the Capitol, which is regarded as unprecedented as the deadly riot itself. It opens a new era of acrimony and distrust among lawmakers. The outcome is certain to reverberate beyond the immediate investigation of Donald Trump's efforts to overturn Joe Biden's election victory. Republicans vow to use the same tools to go after Democrats, if they win House control in the midterm election.
