Investigating the January 6 Committee: What is the Left Afraid Of? VFAF Editorial by CPT Robert M. Cornicelli

Investigating the January 6 Committee: What is the Left Afraid Of? 

The call to investigate the January 6 Committee has sparked heated debates, but it is a necessary step for preserving public trust in the justice system. A fair and impartial justice system requires consistent application of scrutiny, methods, and logic. To ensure credibility, the same rigorous standards applied to other high-profile investigations, such as those involving President Donald Trump, must also apply to those in positions of power who led the highly partisan January 6 Committee.

Consistent Standards Are Key:

President Donald Trump has faced investigations in cases where evidence was thin or contentious. In the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault case, there was no direct evidence tying Trump to the alleged incident, yet the matter advanced through the courts, culminating in a civil verdict. This was not about whether one supports Trump; it was a demonstration of how the justice system can proceed even when evidence appears non-existent, limited or circumstantial.

Similarly, the ongoing New York case accusing Trump of inflating property values raises questions about selective enforcement. President Trump’s lenders and banks, sophisticated financial institutions with their own due diligence, reported no harm or losses. Yet, the case continues, based on interpretations of potential fraud rather than tangible damages. If these cases warranted investigation under such conditions, why should the January 6 Committee, which played a significant role in shaping public opinion and potentially influencing criminal referrals, escape similar scrutiny?

Trust and Transparency Go Both Ways:

Members of the January 6 Committee trusted the justice system to investigate President Trump extensively, often without concrete evidence or tangible harm to victims. It is only logical for them to demonstrate that same trust in the justice system when questions arise about their own conduct. What are they afraid of? If they believe in the fairness and integrity of the institutions, they championed to hold Trump accountable, they should welcome an independent investigation into their actions.

Reports that some committee members have sought preemptive pardons from President Biden raise serious questions. Why would anyone seek immunity unless they feared potential wrongdoing? Such actions undermine public confidence and suggest there may be more to uncover. If their conduct was above board, an investigation would only serve to confirm it, enhancing their credibility and the legitimacy of their findings.
Justice Must Be Blind.

A justice system that applies double standards risks irrelevance and public disdain. If Trump can be investigated for alleged crimes without direct victims or substantial evidence, then those responsible for shaping public narratives about January 6 must also be willing to face scrutiny.

Investigating the January 6 Committee isn’t about deflecting blame from those who participated in the Capitol incident; it’s about ensuring that no one is above scrutiny: not former presidents, and not congressional committees. Transparency, accountability, and fairness must be applied universally if the justice system hopes to regain the trust of the American people.

Rebuilding Trust in Justice:

In a polarized era, equal treatment under the law is the only path to preserving the relevance and integrity of our courts. Investigating the January 6 Committee would demonstrate that the justice system operates above politics. If the committee members trusted the system to investigate Trump, they should trust it to investigate them. A transparent inquiry would show the public that justice remains blind, and accountability is not reserved for one side of the political aisle.

By CPT Robert M. Cornicelli @VFAFWarroom                                                                                               
US Army (Ret)/Navy Veteran                                                                           
President, Veterans for America First