The Controversial Deletion of Files by the Jan 6 Committee

The Jan 6 Committee, a select committee established by the United States House of Representatives to investigate the Capitol riot that occurred on January 6, 2021, has been the subject of controversy following the revelation that more than 100 encrypted files were deleted from its probe just days before Republicans took over the majority of the House of Representatives.

Former President Donald Trump, who has been a vocal critic of the committee, claimed that the deletion of these files exonerated him completely and showed that then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was responsible for the security failures on that day. Trump had offered to deploy 10,000 soldiers or National Guard troops prior to January 6th, but Pelosi had rejected the offer.

The House Administration Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee, led by Chairman Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., is currently investigating the security failures on January 6, 2021, as well as the actions of the former select committee. Sources familiar with Loudermilk’s investigation told Fox News Digital that the former committee was required to turn over all documents from its investigation to the new panel, but only approximately two terabytes of data were received.

Furthermore, a forensic analysis of the data and archived hard drives revealed that 117 files were both deleted and encrypted. These files were deleted on January 1, 2023, just days before Thompson’s team was required to transfer the data to the new committee. The forensics team has since recovered all 117 deleted and encrypted files.

Loudermilk sent a letter to Thompson requesting access to the recovered files and demanding passwords to access the data. He also penned letters to the White House general counsel and the general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security, requesting unedited and unredacted transcripts of White House and DHS testimony to the former select committee.

The transcripts of these interviews are known to exist, but were not turned over by the Thompson-led committee. Loudermilk demanded compliance by January 24.

The American people deserve to know the full truth about what happened on January 6, 2021, and Speaker Johnson has empowered Loudermilk to use all necessary tools to recover these documents. It is obvious that the Pelosi-led Select Committee went to great lengths to prevent Americans from seeing certain documents produced in their investigation. The committee intended to obstruct the House Administration Subcommittee by failing to preserve critical information and videos as required by House rules.

The deletion of these files raises serious questions about the integrity of the Jan 6 Committee’s investigation and its commitment to uncovering the truth. The American people deserve transparency and clarity, not theater, about exactly what occurred that day. The House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight is determined to present the facts and hold those responsible accountable.

In conclusion, the deletion of more than 100 encrypted files by the Jan 6 Committee just days before Republicans took over the majority of the House of Representatives has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation and its commitment to uncovering the truth. The American people deserve transparency and clarity about what happened on January 6, 2021, and the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight is determined to present the facts and hold those responsible accountable.