House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has launched a scathing attack on the former Democrat-led January 6 Select Committee, accusing them of deliberately deleting or password-protecting crucial data just before Republicans took control of the House in early 2023. Stefanik’s remarks came after the House Administration Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee, responsible for investigating both the events of the Capitol riot and the previous inquiry into it, discovered that approximately 2 terabytes of data were missing from archived records.
According to a report from the New York Post, during the transition of power in January 2023, over 100 files were either encrypted or deleted from congressional hard drives. The Select Committee, originally formed under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was expected to turn over 4 terabytes of archived data to House Republicans, but only 2 terabytes were received.
Stefanik Calls for Transparency
Stefanik, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her outrage, directly calling out former Select Committee members, including Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and former Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).
“As I said from day one, Nancy Pelosi’s sham January 6th Committee was illegitimate and unconstitutional. It should come as a surprise to no one that Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney’s fake committee illegally deleted records of their sham investigation and obstructed justice,” Stefanik wrote in her post. “The American people deserve full transparency.”
Her statement reflects long-standing Republican skepticism of the January 6 Select Committee’s integrity, as many GOP members have criticized the committee for being politically motivated and biased against Trump and his allies.
Allegations of Data Tampering
The revelation that crucial documents may have been removed or encrypted has sparked outrage among House Republicans, with many seeing it as a deliberate effort to conceal evidence that could paint a different picture of the events leading up to and following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), chairman of the House Administration Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee, has led the charge in investigating the missing records. “We were assured that we would receive a complete archive of the Select Committee’s work,” Loudermilk stated. “Instead, we received only half of the expected materials, with critical files being either password-protected or outright deleted.”
The missing data raises serious questions about the integrity of the committee’s work and whether certain aspects of the investigation were intentionally concealed before the GOP-led House could scrutinize them.
Cheney and Thompson Respond
Former Rep. Liz Cheney, who was one of the most vocal critics of Trump on the Select Committee, has dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt to discredit the committee’s findings.
“These baseless accusations are just another desperate attempt by Trump’s allies to rewrite history and distract from the reality of what happened on January 6,” Cheney said in a statement. She further argued that all records were properly archived and that any missing documents should be sought from the National Archives, which retains government records.
Former Chairman Bennie Thompson echoed Cheney’s sentiments, stating that the Select Committee had followed all standard procedures for record-keeping and ensuring the proper transfer of data.
The Political Fallout
The controversy over missing January 6 records has only deepened partisan tensions in Washington. Many Republicans see it as further proof of what they have long claimed—that the January 6 investigation was a one-sided effort aimed at targeting Trump and his supporters rather than an impartial investigation into the events of that day.
On the other hand, Democrats argue that this latest uproar is simply a distraction from Trump’s legal troubles and his ongoing efforts to undermine faith in the democratic process. They also point out that many of the committee’s findings were made public through hearings and a final report released in December 2022.
Calls for Further Investigation
Stefanik and other House Republicans are now calling for a full investigation into what happened to the missing records. Some have even suggested that legal action may be necessary if it is found that records were intentionally destroyed.
“The American people deserve to know the full truth about January 6,” Stefanik said in a follow-up statement. “If the Select Committee intentionally obstructed justice by deleting or concealing key evidence, then there must be consequences.”
Rep. Loudermilk has signaled that his committee will continue its probe into the matter and may call former committee members and staff for questioning. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers have suggested referring the case to the Department of Justice for potential obstruction of justice charges.
Looking Ahead
As the battle over the January 6 investigation continues, this latest dispute over missing records is likely to fuel further partisan divisions. With Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in full swing, the controversy could also play a role in shaping public perceptions of the former president’s legal battles and the broader political landscape.
For now, House Republicans appear determined to hold the previous committee accountable, while Democrats insist that the Select Committee’s work was both thorough and properly documented. Whether additional records will be recovered—and what they might reveal—remains to be seen.
