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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Jan 6 Commission To Investigate “Tourists”

Jan 6 Commission To Investigate “Tourists”

by | 86 Comments

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This is good news:

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I’m sure the GOP insurrectionists will try to turn it into a joke, but I suspect the overwhelming evidence will steamroll their lies and objections. I mean, it’s ALL on video and folks were tripping over themselves to incriminate themselves on social media.

So I remain hopeful. And look forward to hearing about the congress critters who gave “pre-invasion tours” of the capitol.

Open thread

Reader Interactions

86Comments

  1. 1.

    kindness

    Good except one person’s insurrection is another person’s pledge of allegiance.  We’ve already see that go down this week from Republicans.

  2. 2.

    Spanky

    Downstairs, mistermix said that subpoenas will need to be approved by trumpist vice-chair.

    I am not optimistic about this venture.

  3. 3.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    This is good news. And like it was mentioned below, we can use any bad faith against them and keep the Insurrection in the news

  4. 4.

    Gin & Tonic

    Me, being of not just a glass-half-empty mindset, but also the glass is dirty, and it’s got a chip, and you poured the cheap stuff in it, I fully expect the R’s to neuter this from the jump.

    I will be delighted to be proven wrong, but I don’t expect that.

  5. 5.

    Another Scott

    Sadly, I think we can expect at least 2 reports from the Commission: 1) A reality-based one that gets 5 votes, and 2) a “whatabout”-based one that gets 5 votes.

    We’ll see. I wish the reality-based side good luck.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  6. 6.

    Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix

    @Spanky: Perhaps I reacted two quickly.  I’m sure the 5 Federalist Society members of the committee, none of whom are in government, will be eager for a fair hearing.

  7. 7.

    Kelly

    Open Thread?

    Heading out to kayak with several fellow retirees today. We’re all fully vaccinated and we can CARPOOL. First carpool in a looong time

  8. 8.

    germy

    The Schenectady man arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot has been placed back on home detention after he was accused of violating conditions of his release, including failing to notify those monitoring him of a new misdemeanor petty larceny arrest in Clifton Park, records show.

    After his January arrest, Fellows was initially placed on home confinement and electronic monitoring. But after his indictment, the judge relaxed his release conditions Feb. 3 to eliminate the home confinement and instead substitute a 9 p.m. curfew.

    Federal prosecutors last week, however, moved to have Fellows sent to jail pending trial. They cited a May 5 report from Pretrial Services, the entity monitoring him, which cited “numerous violations” of his release.

    The report indicated he twice failed to comply with curfew where he gave excuses. In one instance, he told the officer he had left a message that he was running late, but no record of the message existed, the prosecution filing reads. He also twice failed to report to the officer as directed, the filing read.

    Among his release obligations was also to report any new contacts with law enforcement or arrests as soon as possible. The prosecution filing notes he was given an appearance ticket for petty larceny with an appearance date set for Wednesday of this week. He was arrested on that charge April 28.

    Fellows, who has previously been identified in federal court as a chimney sweep, is accused of taking $700 in cash from a Clifton Park couple to do repair work on their chimney but he failed to do the work as agreed.

    He is accused of taking the couple’s money Dec. 28, just nine days before he is accused of participating in the Capitol riot, according to the filing.

    I’m actually amazed they didn’t get more “tourists” from upstate NY.

    And what a surprise!  He’s a crooked contractor.

  9. 9.

    Bobby Thomson

    Five Republican appointees:

    Bob Barr

    Trey Gowdy

    Alberto Gonzalez

    George Tenet

    Glenn Griftwald

  10. 10.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Ends dec. 31

    Assume that is 12/31/2021. Is it usual in these things to specify an end date? Why not just “it ends when it ends” (when the commission has had a chance to subpoena witnesses, hear and evaluate testimony, recommend further action)?

    Why hamper them with an arbitrary deadline?

  14. 14.

    hueyplong

    @SiubhanDuinne: It’s a joke until they publish the real one and you realize that the hero of 10/3/51 lacked the imagination to list the worst of the worst.

  15. 15.

    Jeffro

    @Kelly: very cool and happy kayaking!

    Which reminds me, I need to check the weather for this weekend and week ahead, and see when I can get out there myself.  =)

  17. 17.

    Just Chuck

    @SiubhanDuinne: A commission is expected to conclude with a report, and that requires a deadline.    Further action is based on the report (assuming it isn’t gaslighted and buried like Mueller’s was).  The R’s would love to stretch the commission out over years so they can scream “fishing expedition”.

  21. 21.

    Ascap_scab

    Chair and vice-Chair must agree on subpoenas. Kevin McCarthy will never be called to answer about his call with TFG. This commission is pointless. Two reports will emerge long after anything relevant can be acted upon.

  22. 22.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Kelly:

    Good point.

    @Just Chuck:

    They have, though, effectively six months to complete their task. I worry that there’s going to be a lot of bullshit delay on the R side, and the commission will hit mid-December and have very little to show for their efforts and have to create a final report in two weeks during the holidays, and the Rs, once again, are going to walk away and say “Nothing there,” and the Village will dust its hands and say “Nope, nothing there, bipartisanship works.”

    I am not feeling sanguine about this endeavour. I hope I’m wrong.

  23. 23.

    Benw

    Objective and unbiased GQP appointees:

    1. Ted Nugent (vice chair)
    2. The guy who beat the cop to death on Jan 6th
    3. Ivanka
    4. “Judy Rouliani”
    5. a piece of paper with “God Bles Brave donald Trump” written in Sharpie
  24. 24.

    karen marie

    @SiubhanDuinne: Well, it shouldn’t take very long to investigate “the facts and circumstances surrounding the facts and circumstances,” right?

  27. 27.

    sdhays

    I think the “tourists” being put on trial should subpoena Congressman “Tourists” to testify on their behalf. That would be fun to watch.

  29. 29.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @debbie:

    Wasn’t Katko one of the ones to vote for Trump’s impeachment in the House? Or am I wrong? The name sounds really familiar

  30. 30.

    Tony Jay

    Fellows, who has previously been identified in federal court as a chimney sweep

    Oh f#*k right off.

  32. 32.

    debbie

    @germy:

    Thanks. I hadn’t been able to find it. What an asshole MTG is. I think she’s hit Harassment Level, and I think she needs to be taught about consequences. Think of the cooties she spit through that little flap.

  36. 36.

    West of the Rockies

    @Kelly:

    Sounds lovely!  We’re buying sit-on-tops this weekend for non-aggressive coastal ventures.  Testing them out on a lake.  My fiancée wants to take the sheepadoodle out with us (on the lake)?  What could possibly go wrong?

    (All three of us will be vested up.  The two-legs are both experienced paddlers.)

  38. 38.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @debbie: Aren’t there laws against stalking?  Isn’t that what she did to AOC, a couple of other congresspersons and to the Parkland kid?

    I guess I can hope that sooner or later she stalks the wrong person.  I think that may be the only consequence she’d understand.

  39. 39.

    dr. bloor

    I can’t think of anything less useful than a “bipartisan” commission to investigate this, wherein “bipartisan” is functionally defined as obfuscating the obvious and contaminating the process with whataboutism.

    The truth is the truth.  Find ten people who are committed to it, and let them do the job.

  40. 40.

    NotMax

    Top 5 on the R list?

    Joe Arpaio
    Bernie Kerik
    Erik Prince
    Gen. William Boykin
    Roy Moore

    //

  41. 41.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    Glenn is very, very, very upset that someone found their way into a YAF account. I seem to remember something about someone’s risotto recipe that Glenn found to be just fine to disseminate.

    Glenn Greenwald
    @ggreenwald
    Replying to
    @ggreenwald
    Acting like the NSA/FBI,
    @TheIntercept
    and Lee have already doxed one person — not an official with any government agency, just someone with a political group whose ideology they oppose — and they got it completely wrong when exposing him.

    https://theintercept.com/2021/03/15/gab-hack-donald-trump-parler-extremists/…

  43. 43.

    scav

    I’d enjoy someone asking the Georgia State Tourist Board for confirmation of local standards of normal tourist behavior just to really really emphasize the amenities and freedoms of visiting the Peach State. Wonder if The World of Coca Cola would make a similar plug for interested guests?

  44. 44.

    James E Powell

    I am not at all excited about a “both sides” Jan 6 investigation. I would prefer that Democrats adopt the same methods as Republicans did for the Benghazi!!! investigation and if Republicans or the press/media don’t like it, tell them to fuck off.

    I expect the Republicans will do whatever they can to derail, denounce, and delegitimize the investigation. And I expect it will produce a “mistakes were made” report that the Republicans will completely deny and disregard. It will make the Mueller Report look like a big deal.

  45. 45.

    NotMax

    @Baud

    Trivia: Back when that was the way it was done, chimney sweeps who crawled up and down inside chimneys suffered a stupendously higher incidence of cancer of the scrotum.

  47. 47.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @SiubhanDuinne: So that the Rs don’t try to run this past the next election, when many people think we’ll lose one or both parts of Congress.

  48. 48.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @dr. bloor:

    My guess is the Republicans would never agree to that and Dems didn’t want the commission to appear “partisan”. I admit I am leary about it a tad, but the Dems wanted something and think this is the best they could get under the circumstances

  51. 51.

    Kelly

    @West of the Rockies: If it’s warm enough or you have wetsuits bail off your new sit on tops in a sheltered spot close to shore and climb back on from the water. It may take a few tries to get the knack of sliding back on with out flipping the kayak. The trick is to float perpendicular to the center of the boat, reach across, stay flat on the water, slide on your belly while kicking your feet. Huge energy saver compared to dragging the kayak to the shore to reenter.

  52. 52.

    dr. bloor

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    I understand the Dem motivation, I just think it’s misguided.  Absolutely nothing practical will come of it one way or another; they’re documenting history, and selling out on the process means the historical record will be compromised.  They’re dead wrong if they think “bipartisan” adds any value or will change any minds.

  53. 53.

    West of the Rockies

    So what, really, is Greenwald?  He adores Assaunge, lives in South America, retains his American citizenship (?), is a white gay writer…

    I’ve not read anything of his but the odd tweet.  Is he a fiscally conservative, anti-colonialist, fascist-loving rabblerouser?

    I only really know he is loathed by right-minded jackals.

  56. 56.

    trollhattan

    @germy: ​
     
    “Sounds like another case of financial insecurity.”
    “You mean he didn’t get paid for work he didn’t do?”
    “Exactly.”
    and, scene

  59. 59.

    trollhattan

    @West of the Rockies: ​
     
    IIRC, and it’s been a looong while, he made his bones being a conservative against the Bush Jr. torture regime. And may have a libertarianish view of gay rights. Because reasons. In all other regards he’s bog-standard Republican in that he knows all problems are caused by the libs.

  60. 60.

    NotMax

    OT.

    Has Immanentize done a disappearing act? Paws crossed it’s not due to anything seriously negative in his realm.

  62. 62.

    Cameron

    @Baud: True, but turtles can breathe through their cloaca and there is at least one type in China that can urinate out of its mouth.  Any comparison to a human being living or dead is purely coincidental.

  65. 65.

    Kelly

    @West of the Rockies: Another tip: A Cabela’s 5 gallon bucket with a bottom handle ($15) with a threaded Gamma Seal lid ($10) is a sturdy, cheap, waterproof container for lunch, spare clothes, first aid kit etc.

  66. 66.

    burnspbesq

    @Spanky: 

    subpoenas will need to be approved by trumpist vice-chair.

    Grand jury subpoenas need no such approval.

  69. 69.

    Geminid

    @NotMax: Could be finals time. I don’t know if that is seriously negative, but he will probably glad when he gets past them.

  71. 71.

    burnspbesq

    @Ascap_scab:

    Two reports will emerge long after anything relevant can be acted upon.

    Statutes of limitation don’t run out until 2026.

  73. 73.

    Kay

    I’ve given up on this sort of “accountability”. It just never actually holds anyone accountable. It’s like some odd Potemkin version “accountable” where nothing happens to anyone who is responsible.
    We can still beat them in elections, though.

  74. 74.

    sdhays

    @Gin & Tonic: LOL:

    “There’s too much publicity,” the XSS administrator explained. “Ransomware has gathered a critical mass of nonsense, bullshit, hype, and fuss around it. The word ‘ransomware’ has been put on a par with a number of unpleasant phenomena, such as geopolitical tensions, extortion, and government-backed hacks. This word has become dangerous and toxic.”

    I’m rather speechless. This is like saying human trafficking “has become” dangerous and toxic. What on earth does this person think ransomware used to mean, in some bygone time, when it wasn’t “toxic” and “dangerous”?

    Also, how dare people get “fussy” about having their data stolen and forced to pay exorbitant amounts to retrieve it!! Such “bullshit“!!

    It’s good to know that these evil jackasses live all the way up their own asses.

  76. 76.

    Gravenstone

    @Gin & Tonic: The word ‘ransomware’ has been put on a par with a number of unpleasant phenomena, such as geopolitical tensions, extortion, and government-backed hacks. This word has become dangerous and toxic.

    I find this passage from the article particularly – ironic, perhaps? Plus I bolded a couple words that imply these fellows may be unfamiliar with a thesaurus?

  77. 77.

    Gravenstone

    @Nicole: Yup, coal soot has some really nasty shit in it. And the relatively thin skin of the scrotum makes it ideal for absorption of those compounds into the body.

  78. 78.

    Tony Jay

    @Baud:

    Exactly. Is Dick Van Dyke dead? I hope not. And if he is he needs to rise rotting and raging from the crypt and both wreak and reek havoc on this bad egg.

    Sweeping, it’s not just a trade, it’s a way of life.

  79. 79.

    Geminid

    @Nicole:Although I think he had some good ideas, I am generally not a big fan of Karl Marx. But I keep in mind that Marx lived in England at a time when children swept chimineys. And at a time when Irish starved to death during the Potato famine, while grain was being exported from Ireland to England. To feed horses.

  80. 80.

    Edmund Dantes

    @Chief Oshkosh:  You’re adorable.

    If the GOP wins back the house, we will be subjected to several committees rehashing the summer of BLM terrorism no matter what the Dems did in the interim for committees and timelines.

  82. 82.

    James E Powell

    Every Republican member of the commission will be approved by Trump. The whole thing is useless.

  85. 85.

    compassrose.pdx

    All understandable skepticism aside; hopefully this commission will summon and grill TFG’s heads of DHS at the time, Actin’ Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli, as well as the role, if any of the Federal Protective Service, the DHS subagency tasked with providing security for federal buildings and etc.  Was security for the Capitol complex part of their job?  If so, where were they on the 6th and preceding days?

  86. 86.

    J R in WV

    @Nicole: ​

    [Cancer of the scrotum in young chimney sweeps was] Limited to England. In Germany, they didn’t use children to clean chimneys.

    So, in Germany the market was distorted in order to keep children from earning a living wage working to clean chimneys?

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