The newly established Republican-led subcommittee dedicated to investigating the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack is set to hold its inaugural hearing next month, according to panel Chair Barry Loudermilk. This announcement marks a significant step in the GOP's efforts to reshape the narrative around the Capitol riots.

Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican, revealed that the focus of the upcoming hearing will be the inquiry conducted by the Biden-era FBI into the pipe bombs discovered at the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic National Committees on January 5, 2021. This development closely follows the recent arrest of a 30-year-old man from Virginia, who has been charged with transporting these explosive devices, nearly five years after the incident.

The hearing is tentatively scheduled for the third week of January, as confirmed by Loudermilk in a recent interview. “We’re nailing down the date — I think it’s probably going to be around the third week or so,” he stated.

This first session of the select subcommittee aims to launch the next chapter in the Republican Party’s examination of the violent events that unfolded at the Capitol. GOP members have consistently criticized the former Democrat-led Jan. 6 committee, accusing it of bias against former President Donald Trump and focusing more on political repercussions rather than addressing the security lapses that led to the riot.

The ongoing debates and investigations into the Capitol attack continue to draw attention, with Trump and his allies expressing discontent over the handling of the aftermath by the Biden Department of Justice. Notably, former special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, recently defended his investigation during a deposition with the House Judiciary Committee.

In light of these developments, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a prominent Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and an ex officio member of the Jan. 6 panel, suggested that Loudermilk should invite Smith to testify regarding the political motivations of the pipe bomb suspect. Raskin emphasized, “Undoubtedly, the fact that this guy was a supporter of Donald Trump's big lie, and the various activities of January 6, suggests that there was no cover-up of who the person was,” highlighting the political underpinnings of the January 6 events.

As the subcommittee prepares for its first hearing, the nation watches closely, anticipating new insights into the complex tapestry of events and responses tied to the January 6 attack.