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Headed by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, the Republicans slipped a resolution right under the nose of Democrats last week that will establish a subcommitteeÌý— led by LoudermilkÌý— to yet again reinvestigate the Jan. 6 attack. Despite the largest investigation in FBI history and a House Select committee that spent 18 months probing the rampage, calling more than 1,000 witnesses and producingÌýan exhaustive 845-page report. Trump wasÌýindictedÌýon four felony counts for attempting to overturn the election result, including a charge of conspiring to defraud the United States.Ìý

They are insatiable and inextinguishable, Trump’s legion of apostates. So one more time from the topÌý— and again and again until they can marshal the untruthful outcome they desire.Ìý

Loudermilk has actually already had one kick at that can —Ìýan inquiry that focused on security lapses and blamed then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Ìý

Just to remind: Rioters violently besieged the Capitol after Trump had beckoned them. Legislators were rushed to a safe room or huddled under their desks as insurgents penetrated the ramparts, smashed windows, hunting in particular Pelosi and then-vice-president Mike Pence, who’d refused Trump’s demands to halt the electoral college certification of incoming president Joe Biden.

Five people died during the attack and four officers involved in the response later died by suicide. About 140 law enforcement officers were injured.Ìý

But the GOP wants to erase that horror from history, upend it, transmogrify it.Ìý

House Democrats were caught sleeping when the resolution snuck through, though afterwards claiming they’ve nothing to fear. Said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a member of the first committee that did all the heavy lifting: “We welcome yet another chance to remind Americans of House Republicans’ ongoing complicity withÌý— and embarrassing apologetics forÌý— MAGA’s violent insurrection against Congress and Vice-President Mike Pence, and Trump’s sinister attempt to overthrow a presidential election.”Ìý

There is, in fact, much to be leery of. The rejectionists will not rest.ÌýEmboldened by a slew of Supreme Court rulings favourable to TrumpÌý— particularly a narrow conservative-majority decisionÌýthat held for the first time that former presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts (an elastic definition)Ìý— it’s full speed ahead for the whitewashing of Jan. 6 and the many crimes of a convicted felon who once again disgraces the White House.Ìý

It was that stunning pronouncement from a reactionary court that knocked the underpinnings out from special counsel Jack Smith’s reportÌý— landing just days before Trump’s return to office on Jan. 20Ìý—Ìýeven while Smith resolutely stood by its findings and his earlier decision to bring criminal charges against Trump.Ìý

“The through-line of all of Mr. Trump’s criminal efforts was deceitÌý— knowingly false claims of election fraudÌý— and the evidence shows that Mr. Trump used these lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States’ democratic process,” the report stated.Ìý

But Smith had to concede defeat. After the case was repeatedly delayed by appeals, his team dismissed the indictments following last November’s election because of long-standing Justice Department policyÌýthat says sitting residents can’t face federal prosecution. And Trump had just become the president-elect.Ìý

Smith remained of the strong belief that there was sufficient evidence to convict Trump at trial. But that pathway was blocked, and here we are.Ìý

Where is that, you might ask? On his first day in office, pardons and clemency for virtually all of the 1,270 rioters who’d been convicted and commuted the sentence of 14 others from far-right extremist groupsÌý— including Oath Keepers and the Proud BoysÌý— releasing from prison those who were serving some of the longest Jan. 6 sentences for seditious conspiracy. Enrique Torres, former head of the Proud Boys, serving 22 yearsÌý— pardoned. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, serving 18 yearsÌý— commuted. In full-throttle weaponization of the Justice Department, Trump fired many of the federal agents and prosecutors who’d mounted cases against the rioters.Ìý

It doesn’t end there, though, in America-the-unhinged, inÌýtheÌýjaw-droppingÌýafter-effectsÌýsequences cascading from this felonious presidency. Now the malefactors want compensation.Ìý

As reported recently by the New York Times, the berserkers convicted and imprisoned are seeking financial reparations from the government, advancing themselves as victims rather than criminals.Ìý

Mark McCloskey, a lawyer for the rioters, after meeting with senior officials from the Justice Department, has proposed establishing a special panel that would reward damages to the malevolent.Ìý

Does that name ring a bell? McCloskey and his wife first hove into the public eye in 2020 when he and his wife pointed AR-15-style rifles at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their St. Louis, Mo., home. They pleaded guilty to misdemeanour offences and paid a fine.Ìý

Oh, but there’s more in the rewriting of history, this cockamamie presentation of the rioters as true patriots persecuted by justice.ÌýInstead of being quietly sidelined, thanking their Trump-aligned stars for liberty and a clean slate, several are exploiting their criminal acts as a badge of honourÌýin pursuit of a career in the political arena. At a Republican committee event in Jackson, Mich.,Ìýa few months ago, Ryan KellyÌý— two months served for Jan. 6, trespassing —Ìýintroduced himself as “your favourite J6er,” received with thunderous applause. Kelly is considering a run for governor in 2026.Ìý

Michigan, by the way, on Tuesday threw out charges against Republicans who’d claimed to be state electors for Trump, forwardingÌýfaked documents. Those claims fuelled the riot at theÌýCapitol. Michigan’s attorney general charged the 16 on criminal counts, including forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery and election law forgery. A judge has just tossed the charges.Ìý

This is Trump’s America. Nov. 7, 2028, can’t come soon enough.Ìý

Not that the Democrats have shown any convincing evidence that the party is capable of reclaiming the White House. They’ve learned precious little from the disaster that restored a wildly flawed, mendacious prevaricator to the most powerful job in the world.Ìý

TrumpÌý—Ìýapparent penner and signer of a lecherous birthday greeting to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a burgeoning scandal he can’tÌýsuppressÌý— did have oneÌýcourt ruling go against him this week.Ìý

On Monday, a federal appeals court upheld the decision that Trump must pay an $83-million penalty toÌýE. Jean CarrollÌý— the writer he was convicted of defaming and sexually assaultingÌýin a change room at Bergdorf Goodman in 1998 —Ìýrejecting Trump’s argument that presidential immunity shields him from the punishment.Ìý

The three-judge panel wrote that Trump never argued “absolute” presidential immunity when the case was heard in 2020, and “hence, he may not do so now.”ÌýJust as in December, a different three-judge panel unanimously upheld a separate civil verdict that awarded Carroll $5 million in damages in another related case.Ìý

In America, circa 2025, apparently only an 81-year-old woman has the balls to hold Trump to account.