For those who’ve had an opportunity to look beyond the media-massaged messages surrounding the January 6th select committee, there is a second, more poignant game being played at this time…and it may all be coming to a head sooner rather than later.
The committee is working under a rather ominous deadline, coinciding with the 2022 midterm elections. That contest is largely believed to be trending in the direction of the GOP, who would almost certainly cull the entire committee as soon as they take power.
But, perhaps more importantly in the minds of the never-Trumpers who serve on the committee, is the fact that Donald Trump was planning to hold off on announcing his 2024 reelection bid until after that contest has ended. This means that they have until that time to gather and disseminate as much damaging information as they can on The Don, hoping to keep him from dominating that election when it comes around.
But Trump still has a few tricks up his sleeve, and the committee may not have any way to counter them.
Republicans are bracing for Donald J. Trump to announce an unusually early bid for the White House, a move designed in part to shield the former president from a stream of damaging revelations emerging from investigations into his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 election.
While many Republicans would welcome Mr. Trump’s entry into the race, his move would also exacerbate persistent divisions over whether the former president is the party’s best hope to win back the White House. The party is also divided over whether his candidacy would be an unnecessary distraction from midterm elections […]
And while figuratively slashing the tires of the J6 committee machine is certainly worth it for Trump, the move would also force the hand of any potential GOP primary challenger…especially at a time in which Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues to gather support and notoriety for a possible run.
