House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Barry Loudermilk are currently in a dispute over the direction of a new Republican-led investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. While Johnson reportedly prefers a limited scope that ends scrutiny of figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney, Loudermilk advocates for a broader investigation. Disagreements about the committee’s mission and leadership have delayed its official launch.

Loudermilk, who was tapped to lead the investigation by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, insists that he must have full autonomy and resources to report findings directly to the American public. He has emphasized the need to investigate not just the actions on January 6 but also the systemic failures in Capitol security and the operations of the previous January 6 committee.

Johnson has promised to fully fund the effort and discussed forming a new select committee where he would have greater control over appointments and the process. This setup would likely keep the investigation tightly managed and possibly reduce criticism of former President Donald Trump, whom Loudermilk believes was unfairly targeted by the prior committee.

The Republican agenda appears focused on reframing the January 6 narrative, moving away from Trump’s culpability and toward alleged procedural failures and overreach by Democrats like Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney. Loudermilk’s earlier report even suggested Cheney be investigated by the FBI for her role in the original probe.

Meanwhile, President Biden issued controversial preemptive pardons to several individuals, including Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, aiming to shield them from possible retaliatory measures by a future Trump administration. This strategic clemency has stirred both praise and criticism.