Nancy Pelosi taps Rep. Bennie Thompson to lead committee investigating January 6 insurrection

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A Black Congressman from Mississippi now has the power to force former president Donald Trump to testify. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) will chair the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 insurrection, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on July 1.

“January 6th was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, with five people killed, 140 members of law enforcement physically harmed and countless more seriously traumatized,” Pelosi said in a statement. “It is clear that January 6th was not simply an attack on a building, but an attack on our very democracy, an attack on the peaceful transfer of power.”

Rep. Thompson also chairs the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee. In a statement to CNN after his appointment he said he would not be reluctant to call former President Trump or members of his White House to testify.

Not afraid to wield his power

“I think we need to have access to all the available information. And part of what we plan to do is hire some of the best people, who can help us get access to that kind of information. So, if we need to get it by request or by subpoena I’m not reluctant to do that either,” Thompson said.

The select committee is expected to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deadly January 6 insurrection and the security failures that followed when pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and attempted to disrupt Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s November election results.

The committee began working the day Thompson was appointed. They plan on having the U.S. Capitol Police officers who were there during the attack to be the first to testify.

“It is imperative that we find the truth of that day and ensure that such an assault on our Capitol and democracy cannot again happen,” Thompson said.