Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Torres Statement on Republicans’ Latest Attempt to Erase Facts of January 6th Insurrection
Washington, D.C. – Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight Ranking Member Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement in response to recent actions by Republicans on the Committee:
"Last week, after the House adjourned and Members of Congress returned to their districts, I learned that Oversight Subcommittee Republicans had arranged a transcribed interview of former acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman regarding the events of January 6th. They scheduled this interview without informing the Committee's Democrats and refused to allow Democratic Members or staff to observe or participate.
"Republicans have no interest in legitimate fact-finding. From their dangerous track record of sharing sensitive Capitol security footage with conspiracy theorists, refusing to share relevant information with Democratic staff, and facilitating a sham "hearing" honoring convicted insurrectionists, a disturbing pattern of promoting tyranny over democracy has emerged. These extremists are on a crusade to promote a false, revisionist narrative of the horrific January 6th insurrection.
"On that day, my colleagues and I feared for our lives as Americans witnessed a deadly attack on the seat of our democracy. Insurrectionists used the American flag to beat our heroic officers while others paraded with the Confederate flag and erected a noose and makeshift gallows outside the Capitol. Now, Speaker McCarthy and extremist Republicans are more concerned with clearing the names of violent offenders and radical extremists than working in a bipartisan fashion to improve Capitol security.
"Republicans want to erase the facts of an attempted coup and undo the bipartisan investigation of the January 6th Committee. This is taking us down a dangerous and unprecedented path, and Americans deserve to know what they are trying to hide. Their latest attempt to weaponize Congress' oversight authority undermines the integrity of this institution and erodes the American people's trust in our democracy."