Republicans condemn January 6 committee hearings

House investigatory panel to begin public hearings on Thursday in primetime television spot

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters

A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA

Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP

Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP

A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP

US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP

Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP

Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP

Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP

Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP

US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP

A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP

A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP

Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters

Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP

Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP

A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP

Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP

A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP

Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP

Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP

US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP

Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP

Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP

A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg

US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA

Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP

US House Republicans attempted to portray the January 6 committee as “the most political and least legitimate committee in American history” — hours before the panel is expected to deliver stunning revelations during its first primetime hearing.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy criticised the panel investigating the 2021 assault on the US Capitol for issuing subpoenas to seek information from Republicans, including from Mr McCarthy himself.

“It has permanently damaged the House and divided this country,” he said.

Mr McCarthy, the top Republican in the House, told the committee in a letter via his lawyer that he would not comply with the subpoena.

Republican leadership has often called the panel “illegitimate”, although 35 members of the party joined all Democrats in voting to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the attack. Republican representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger both serve on the panel as well.

Their previous backing of former president Donald Trump's impeachment and involvement in the investigation has not come without consequence, however. Ms Cheney was stripped of her leadership position within the caucus and faces a stern challenge to retain her seat.

Ms Cheney, who serves as the panel's vice chairwoman, was expected to deliver what will amount to opening arguments during the greatly anticipated hearing, which will be broadcast by all major networks apart from conservative outlet Fox News.

And Mr Kinzinger said he would not run for re-election after a redrawn Illinois map would pit him against a Republican incumbent and Trump ally.

“[House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi's sham committee is illegitimate and its sole purpose is to punish Democrats political opponents,” said Elise Stefanik, who replaced Ms Cheney as House Republican Chair.

Ms Pelosi has often been the target of Republican attacks, particularly after she refused to name Trump hardliners Jim Jordan and Jim Banks to the House panel. Mr McCarthy and other figures in the Republican leadership have attempted to pin the Capitol's security failings on her.

On January 6, 2021, thousands of Mr Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol and assaulted police in an attempt to decertify President Joe Biden's electoral victory. Five people died in the violence, including one police officer, and several officers died by suicide after the attack.

The committee has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses during its year-long investigation — including members of Mr Trump's family — and has pored over more than 90,000 documents.

The looming midterm elections and probable threat of Republicans retaking the House has prompted the panel to work at breakneck speed in its efforts to link Mr Trump's plots to overturn the election to the riot.

Though it cannot pass legislation, the panel is likely to make legislative suggestions to Congress so that the events of January 6 cannot be repeated.