Republicans counting on voters to forget about the Jan 6 riot: columnist

According a column by conservative A.B. Stoddard, the Republican leadership is hoping that -- barring any new major revelations -- swing voters will have put concerns about the Jan 6th Capitol insurrection behind them when the midterms roll around giving them a better chance at taking control of the House so they can shut down any investigations.

In her column at Real Clear Politics, Stoddard said that rank and file Republicans are avoiding talking about the riot over fears of angering House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy -- a point made by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).

"I've heard from a number of my colleagues in the last several days who say they, quote, 'Just don't want this target on their back.'" Cheney confessed. "They're just trying to keep their heads down; they don't want to anger Kevin McCarthy … who has been especially active in attempting to block the investigation of events of Jan. 6, despite the fact that he clearly called for such a commission."

As Stoddard wrote, "In order not to risk Trump's wrath, Republicans in Congress will instead risk losing non-tribal, swing voters who view Jan. 6 as a grave event and Trump's embrace of the insurrection as a future threat to democracy. They're gambling those voters will be indifferent to whatever the committee turns up about Trump and Bannon — all of which Trump will demand Republicans defend."

She added, "Should Republicans win that bet, and win next year, they can shut the committee down and put the insurrection behind them — at least until the next certification of electors in January 2025, when more violence can be expected."

Stoddard then skeptically asked, "And we can conclude that in 2023, when they pursue oversight of the executive branch, congressional Republicans will not only be fine with Biden administration officials defying subpoenas from Congress, but that they won't attempt to hold the recalcitrant parties in contempt. Right?"

You can read the whole piece here.