Ensuring a Complete Investigation into the January 6 Insurrection
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Overview
On January 6, 2021, while Congress was counting the Electoral College votes from the 2020 election, thousands of violent insurrectionists breached the barriers surrounding the US Capitol, broke into the very seat of our democracy, and disrupted the peaceful transfer of power.
Protect Democracy believes a thorough and transparent effort by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is absolutely necessary to determine what led to the attack, who bears responsibility, and how to prevent its recurrence. January 6 was the culmination of various troubling factors undermining our democracy—from white supremacists violent extremism to coordinated election subversion—and a comprehensive fact-finding and truth-telling exercise is a critical prerequisite to addressing them. That is why, well before the announcement of the Select Committee, we led a cross-partisan coalition of advocacy organizations calling for Congress to launch an official investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, and organized a letter from 140 former senior national security leaders from both parties who served in presidential administrations and in Congress urging an independent January 6th Commission.
Like the 9/11 Commission before it, the January 6 investigation must ensure that the unprecedented attack on our democracy is thoroughly investigated, that the American people are provided with a full picture of events and their causes, and that lawmakers are equipped with nonpartisan recommendations. Protect Democracy is committed to supporting a comprehensive inquiry and critical reforms to prevent future attacks.
Supporting Documents
- Towards Non-Recurrence: Accountability Options for Trump-Era Transgressions (reissued 01/06/2022) – This white paper introduces a framework for assessing and designing accountability efforts for Trump-era transgressions in service of democratic recovery and reform.The reissued report includes a new preface taking stock of national accountability efforts on the first anniversary of the January 6th insurrection.
- Primer on January 6th Select Committee Hearings – A summary of key facts and findings to date, and what to look for during the public hearings in June 2022.
Updates
Understanding Americans’ Views about January 6 to Help Foster Accountability & Prevent A Recurrence
Twenty-one former Republican House Members Urge Cooperation with the Jan. 6 Select Committee
More than 1,110 DOJ Alumni Endorse AG’s Commitment to Investigate High-Ranking Officials in Connection with Insurrection
The DOJ alumni, who served Democratic and GOP administrations, also call for an investigation of all actions aimed at overturning the 2020 election.
One Year Later: Protect Democracy reissues report on accountability for Trump-era abuses
The reissued report includes a new preface taking stock of national accountability efforts on the first anniversary of the January 6th insurrection
Protect Democracy urges House to hold Mark Meadows in contempt and the Justice Department to refer the citation to a grand jury
Mr. Meadows’s misunderstanding of executive privilege to hide potential wrongdoing does not absolve him of his legal obligations to comply with a congressional subpoena
Federal Appellate Court Affirms Congress’s Urgent Need for Access to January 6th Records
77 Bipartisan Former Members of Congress Urge Federal Appeals Court to Oppose Donald Trump’s Continuing Attempts to Hide Records from the January 6th Select Committee
The court should reject Trump’s armchair assertions of executive privilege—and quickly.
Sixty-Six Former Republican and Democratic Members of Congress Urge Court to Oppose Donald Trump’s Attempt to Hide Records from the January 6 Select Committee
A Violent Attack to Stop a Transfer of Power, Not a Transfer of Documents, Is the Real Threat to Democracy
Protect Democracy applauds Jan 6 Select Committee unanimous, bipartisan vote to hold Stephen Bannon in contempt of Congress
It’s now up to the Justice Department to show that Bannon is not above the law
House bill introduced last week completes ‘four legs of the table’ to stabilize democracy in US
Protect Democracy applauds Speaker Pelosi's decision to seek a House vote establishing a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol
Protect Democracy applauds yesterday’s announcement by the Speaker that the House will vote to establish a Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
Protect Democracy Condemns Use of Filibuster to Block Bipartisan Commission on January 6th Insurrection
Protect Democracy Celebrates House Passage of Legislation Authorizing Bipartisan January 6 Commission
Protect Democracy applauds bipartisan agreement to create a January 6 Commission
140 National Security Leaders to Congress: We Need a January 6th Commission
Protect Democracy applauds the call for an independent and bipartisan national commission to investigate the January 6th assault of the U.S. Capitol.
Cross-partisan Coalition Urges Congress to Establish Comprehensive January 6 Commission
Examining security failures alone is insufficient to ensure full accounting and appropriate corrective actions
Case Documents
Amicus Brief by Former Lawmakers Urging Affirmation of District Court's Ruling to Release Records to Jan 6. Select Committee
Amicus Brief by Former Lawmakers Urging Release of Presidential Records to January 6 Select Committee
Coalition Letter to Pelosi Next Steps for a 1/6 Investigation
Press
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OP-ED: Watch the Jan. 6 hearings like your democracy is at stake. (It is.)
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January 6 Is a Dangerous Shorthand
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Primer on the Hearings of the January 6th Select Committee
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Republicans Signal Refusal of Jan. 6 Subpoenas, Setting Up a Showdown
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Former House Republicans urge GOP lawmakers to comply with Jan. 6 subpoenas
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Twenty former House Republicans are imploring current GOP lawmakers, including Kevin McCarthy, to comply with the Jan. 6 committee's subpoenas.
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In Rebuke to Trump, Supreme Court Allows Release of Jan. 6 Files
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Justice Department Alumni Support Accountability for Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
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Taking Stock: Accountability for January 6th and the Risks of Recurrence
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Former lawmakers urge court to reject Trump effort to stymie Jan. 6 committee
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The Jan. 6 Select Committee & Disinformation: Start Pre-bunking The Lies Now
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Jan 6 committee has subpoenaed witnesses: What happens when they don't comply?
The Hill
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All In with Chris Hayes, 9/1/21
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Does The Jan. 6 Committee Have What It Takes To Investigate The Big Lie?
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Scaling the Wall of Resistance: How Congress Can Compel Executive Branch Cooperation in a Jan. 6 Investigation
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As G.O.P. Blocks Inquiry, Questions on Jan. 6 Attack May Go Unanswered
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GOP poised to block bipartisan probe of Jan. 6 insurrection
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Former DHS secretaries call on Senate to approve Jan. 6 commission
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Ex-national security officials call for commission to investigate Capitol attack
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Ex-national senior security officials call for Capitol attack commission
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140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack