The divide over investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack

Dear Ohio - Politics, Issues, and People

Seven months after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, some Ohio lawmakers are playing direct roles in investigating what happened, while others could become part of the probe.

Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) was initially chosen to serve on the Jan. 6 Select Committee tasked with investigating the Capitol attack, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blocked him once he started calling it “impeachment round three.” He’s now a leading voice criticizing the panel, but there’s a chance he could be called to testify before it because he confirmed to Spectrum News that he spoke with then-President Trump on Jan. 6.

Tim Ryan, a Democratic congressman who represents northeast Ohio, was one of the first members of Congress to start investigating the attack because he chairs the subcommittee that oversees funding the U.S. Capitol Police. While he’s not on the new select committee, he is tracking its work closely as he continues to figure out how to safely reopen Capitol Hill to the public.

In this episode, our Washington Bureau reporter Taylor Popielarz speaks with Jordan and Ryan after the select committee’s first hearing, which featured testimony from four police officers who responded to the attack. Their divided views over it represent how fractured Congress is after Jan. 6.