The January 6th Committee Hearings
On Thursday night, America will have the opportunity to watch the House select committee hearings on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. These hearings will have all the trappings of prime-time television, from b-roll of never-before-seen footage to testimony by well-known individuals. But at the end of the day, these hearings will join a growing list of previous congressional hearings that have held Americans in rapt attention: In 1973, the Senate Watergate hearings were televised and had enough drama TNT could have sponsored them. Nevertheless, the importance of the hearings and magnitude of what they mean for America should not be shrouded by the glitz and glam of prime-time TV.
Similar to the Watergate hearings, the select committee is tasked with uncovering the truth about the insurrection and the roles various individuals played in attempting to undermine American democracy and overthrow the election of 2020. This is no small feat for a committee that has worked to stay above the political fray and out of the Republican Party’s crosshairs. The committee’s hearings and ultimate findings aren’t primarily intended to sway public opinion but to get to the bottom of and uncover the truth about Jan. 6.
Since its formation, Republicans have worked overtime to paint the investigation as a witch hunt led by lawmakers with a political axe to grind. While there will be naysayers and people who wish to whitewash history by averting the public’s attention with grandstanding and unsubstantiated claims, we must not lose sight of the purpose of the committee and what it means for American democracy as a whole. For those not buying into the temerity of the GOP’s bombastic claims, we are hopeful for answers and a better understanding of what exactly happened that fateful day as well as the days leading up to it.
When you tune in on Thursday night, I would encourage you to pause and acknowledge two things: 1. The magnitude of the task ahead of the committee, and 2. The responsibility we have as a nation to set the truth free and the importance of showing up with an open mind. After all, the committee’s job is not to play judge and jury; it is to reveal the truth, and in the words of Joe Friday, “Just the facts, ma’am.”