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The committee investigating Jan. 6 was formed after Republicans blocked a bipartisan committee.
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Trump said it was a “bad decision” for Republicans “not to have representation on that committee”.
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Trump also denounced the bipartisan committee proposal last year, calling it a “democratic trap.”
Former President Donald Trump said last week it was a mistake for Republicans to be no longer involved in the committee investigating Jan. 6.
“Unfortunately, a bad decision was made,” Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Wayne Allyn Root, adding that it was “a bad decision not to have representation on that committee. That was a very, very foolish decision. “
Trump went on to say that the commission is trying to “pretend to be legit” but that it is “just a one-sided witch hunt”.
The House select committee was formed last year after Senate Republicans blocked the formation of a 9/11-style bipartisan committee to investigate the Capitol riot in May 2021.
sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who voted for the commission, said at the time that the “investigations will take place with or without Republicans” and that the GOP should be involved “to ensure that the investigations are fair, impartial and fact-focused.” .”
The Senate vote came after House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who had initially expressed interest in the committee, opposed it. McCarthy said at the time that he was against the committee because Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi “refused to negotiate fundamental parameters in good faith.”
Insider’s Eliza Relman reported that Democrats agreed to nearly all of Republicans’ requests, including that panelists be split equally among both parties and decisions about who to sue would be unanimous.
Trump, for his part, also rejected the idea of the bipartisan commission at the time, calling it a “democratic trap.”
Since turning down the bipartisan commission, McCarthy has labeled the select committee “illegitimate” and rejected attempts to investigate the Capitol riots, even as leaked audio from the days after the attack revealed he promised to do just that.
“We can’t just sweep this under the rug. We need to know why it happened, who did it, and people need to be held accountable for it,” he said. “And I’m committed to making sure that happens.”
During the interview last week, Trump called the House committee and the ongoing hearings a “disgrace”.
“We don’t have representation on this panel. We should definitely have some Republicans — real Republicans,” Trump said, adding that he wasn’t referring to Rep. Liz Cheney, who along with Rep. Adam Kinzinger are the only Republican members. Cheney and Kinzinger both voted to impeach Trump after Jan. 6 and are often criticized by Trump and his supporters as RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only.
“It’s terrible when you look at it. It’s a totally one-sided kangaroo court,” Trump said, adding, “In a way, Republicans should be ashamed of themselves.”
The Trump and McCarthy offices did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
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