Resolution Declaring J6 Committee Illegitimate Awaits Action

Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO) has introduced a 5 page resolution that would effectively rescind the subpoenas issued by the January 6 (J6) Committee against Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Peter Navarro and Daniel Scavino Jr and withdrawing the recommendations that found them in contempt of Congress.

The resolution also calls into question the legitimacy of the J6 Committee, starting with deficiencies in the committee’s composition when then Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) refused to seat Republican members named by then Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

According to House Resolution 503, which established the J6 Committee, there were to be 13 members appointed to the Select Committee by the Speaker, with 5 of those members appointed after consultation with the Minority Leader. Instead, Pelosi seated only 9 members and then held hearings, issued subpoenas and published a flawed report without the required number of members.

The Committee then proceeded to operate without a ranking minority member, ignoring the requirement in H.Res. 503 that the Chair of the Select Committee only issue a subpoena “upon consulting with the ranking minority member.”

House Resolution 503 was not drafted or passed giving the Select Committee Chair unilateral authority to issue subpoenas, meaning all subpoenas issued by the Select Committee were legally insufficient.

The Select Committee is also called out for failing to preserve all documents as required by House rules, and withholding or destroying information that would have provided evidence that former President Donald Trump did not engage in an insurrection.

Rep. Burlison’s resolution concludes that these and other deficiencies resulted in an unprecedented partisan exercise to smear and silence Trump and his allies.

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) shared the text of the resolution on X and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to bring the resolution to the House floor for a vote.

🧵 (1/2) Here’s our 5 page Resolution to rescind the subpoena’s issued for Bannon and Navarro and to declare the January 6th committee to have been illegitimate. pic.twitter.com/eM122OZpzy

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 18, 2024

When asked if the Senate would have to approve Burlison’s resolution, Rep. Massie replied that Senate approval is not necessary, stating, “The original subpoenas were issued unilaterally from the House, so the House can rescind them unilaterally.”

If passed, Burlison’s resolution would declare the J6 Committee’s actions illegitimate and would require the Speaker of the House to notify the Dept. of Justice that all the subpoenas issued by that committee are rescinded and should be considered null and void.

The resolution currently has 24 cosponsors and now awaits action from Speaker Johnson to be brought to a vote.