McCarthy warns Jan. 6 panel to preserve its records

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy this week warned Jan. 6 committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to ensure that the panel preserved documents connected to its investigation into the episode at the U.S. Capitol.

"The American people chose Republicans to lead the 118th Congress," McCarthy wrote. "On January 3, 2023, your work as Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol will come to an end."

"For those reasons, I remind you and your staff on the Committee to preserve all records collected and transcripts of testimony taken during your investigation in accordance with House Rule VII," he continued. "It is clear based on recent news reports that even your own members and staff of the Committee have no visibility into the totality of the investigation."

McCarthy then referenced reports that Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, an ardent opponent of former President Donald Trump, was exerting pressure on the committee to focus its final report almost entirely on the 45th president, at the expense of including other findings.

"It is imperative that all information collected be preserved not just for institutional prerogatives but for transparency to the American people," he further asserted. "The official Congressional Records do not belong to you or any member, but to the American people, and they are owed all of the information you gathered — not merely the information that comports with your political agenda."

McCarthy further contended that the public had a right to "know that the allegations [the committee] made are supported by the facts."

He further vowed that the Republicans would conduct inquiries into why the Capitol was unprepared for such a disturbance, chastising the Democratic-led panel for not doing so.