Ranking Member Morelle Opening Remarks at January 6th Pipe Bomb Hearing
Washington, D.C. — Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the January 6th pipe bombs:
Watch video here.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
“And thanks to our witnesses for joining us this morning and thank you for your long service. And thanks to all the brave men and women of the Capitol Police, the FBI, and other law enforcement for the work they do each and every day to keep the American people safe, which is no easy task, but we’re very grateful, nonetheless.
“I must admit I’m perplexed as to why we’re here for a public hearing on an active and ongoing federal criminal investigation.
“Especially one in which the FBI has repeatedly told Congress—including members of this subcommittee—that discussing an ongoing investigation would undermine its integrity and make it more difficult to catch the perpetrator.
“I have to wonder aloud whether that’s the goal: to undermine the integrity of an ongoing investigation. I certainly hope not.
“But here we are. So, while I’m not quite sure what the precise goal of this hearing is, I sincerely hope it is treated with the seriousness it deserves—and that it’s not used as a platform to spread conspiracy theories about the FBI and the United States Capitol Police.
“Throughout this Congress, prominent House Republicans have called to defund agencies like the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“In fact, at least one House Republican sells tee shirts on their website that say, ‘Defund the FBI.’
“I must point out the irony of my friends on the other side the aisle repeatedly criticizing the pace of this FBI investigation while, at the same time, proudly attempting to defund the FBI, ATF, and other agencies leading the inquiry.
“How does it make any sense to criticize the pace of an investigation, or the resources allocated to it, while simultaneously taking those resources away?
“I’m not the only one confused – the Executive Director of the National Fraternal Order of Police summed it up well: ‘To say you support law enforcement and then withhold funding for law enforcement is at variance with common sense.’
“And it’s not just the funding. This entire Congress, House Republicans have echoed the former President’s bizarre accusations that the FBI has been weaponized against the American people, and that it cannot be trusted.
“In fact, before technical difficulties prevented the Majority on this subcommittee from doing so, the current Speaker admitted that his allies on this subcommittee were blurring faces of rioters in the January 6 footage they released over Capitol Police objections because, ‘We don’t want them to be retaliated against and to be charged by the Department of Justice.’
“Imagine that people who might have broken the law we don’t want them to have retaliated against or to be charged for crimes they may have committed.
“As I’m sure our witnesses can attest, law enforcement relies heavily on the cooperation of members of the public to perform effective investigations. All leveling these baseless accusations against the FBI does is discourage witnesses and members of the public who may be helpful and have information from cooperating.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s key that the individual who placed, or individuals, who placed the pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC ahead of the January 6 attack be caught and prosecuted.
“And while I appreciate the Majority’s interest, I am not sure how this hearing will help advance that goal or what the Committee on House Administration could possibly do, legislatively, to speed up an active FBI investigation.
“Again, I thank the witnesses for being here, for your service, for your willingness to answer questions, and I’m actually looking forward to your testimony.
“And with that Mr. Chairman, I yield back.”
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