House Republicans are reportedly planning to create a new panel called the “Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government” as part of the House Judiciary Committee.
The subcommittee will investigate alleged abuses of power by federal agencies, particularly those targeting conservatives, according to Wall Street Journal columnist Kim Strassel.
The subcommittee’s primary focus will be on the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the intelligence community, as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s failed Disinformation Governance Board.
The idea for the subcommittee was reportedly driven by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy in response to requests from conservative members.
McCarthy held a meeting about the new panel with incoming House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and incoming House Oversight Chairman James Comer.
In addition, McCarthy has announced the creation of a Select Committee on China, which will be chaired by Representative Mike Gallagher.
The subcommittee’s creation is reportedly in response to the release of the “Twitter Files,” a series of threads exposing alleged collusion between Twitter and federal agencies, including the FBI, to censor conservatives.
The threads were released after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk, who has vowed to make the platform more transparent and friendly to free speech.
The investigation will also focus on the Department of Justice’s failed attempt to establish a Disinformation Governance Board, which was announced shortly after Musk’s purchase of Twitter.
The project was ultimately abandoned due to its Orwellian name and the perceived partisan leanings of its proposed chair, Nina Jankowicz.
The Republican Party is set to take the majority in the House of Representatives when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan 3.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who is hoping to become the next Speaker of the House, has already met with Jordan and Comer to discuss the planned investigation.
