Why Kevin McCarthy should support the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot

It is very likely that Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Bakersfield Republican who now represents Clovis and parts of Fresno County in Congress, will win re-election in the fall and well might be the next House speaker. As such, he will have an outsize role in doing good or harm to the American people.

On Thursday night the House of Representatives’ investigative committee on the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol was to begin reporting its findings. So this is an important test for whether McCarthy will be a historic figure in Congress, or a narrow-minded partisan seeking only power and control.

Early indications are not promising.

McCarthy, the GOP leader in the House, has rebuffed the committee’s subpoena to testify. Before that, when he attempted to place strident Trump-backers and “Stop the Steal” adherents on the panel, like Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disqualified those picks. That left McCarthy furious and critical of the committee, calling it nothing more than a Democratic sham. He repeated such accusations on Thursday.

Yet McCarthy was among those who called President Trump when the riot was happening, telling him to order the protesters to stop.

So today, as the Republicans leader in the House, this is what we wish he would say:

Fellow Americans, I have had my differences with the Jan. 6 committee. But on reflection, we owe it to Americans everywhere to hear the committee’s findings. I believe in seeking the truth, and if the committee is truly trying to find out what happened and who was involved, the truth will win out. The truth consists of facts and events that really occurred, not just the wishes, fancies or spin of Republicans or Democrats.

I remember that day. It was scary. The noise of the mob was horrific. Those in the House chamber barely got out safely.

I called President Trump and asked him to tell the demonstrators to stop. It took him hours to finally do so.

There were shattered windows, broken doors and injured Capitol police. Some of those officers were hurt terribly. They suffer ill effects to this day. My heart goes out to them.

I encourage my Republican colleagues to tune in and watch the hearings. Don’t turn away. We cannot run from this or pretend it did not happen. We all watched it — we were there.

No, the best course is for us to follow the hearings and then offer our thoughtful response. Americans are smart enough to figure out the truth. So let’s share our perspectives — let’s not fail to engage the debate.

I have served for many years with Democratic colleagues on the committee. I have to be honest with myself — they are honorable people. So I will give them the benefit of the doubt that they want the same thing I do — a strong democracy and a better America.

This is not about a president or a stolen election. This is about a violent attempt to disrupt the work of the Congress and disqualify the votes of Americans.

On Tuesday I won my primary election. I look forward to winning in November. For my peers who also expect to return to Congress next year, let’s make this a House worth returning to.

It would be great if the above was not simply the imagination of an opinion writer. We hold no illusions that McCarthy will actually face the truth of that awful day. But we absolutely demand that McCarthy rise above the rank partisanship so dominating the GOP. If he wishes to be the next House speaker, McCarthy would be the second in the line of succession should the president die or become incapacitated. His overarching goal must be this: He will do what is best for America.

As the Jan. 6 committee reports its findings from its nearly year-long investigation, Americans need to know what happened that fateful day to ensure it never occurs again.

This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Why Kevin McCarthy should support the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot."