In the aftermath of the deadly failed insurrection mounted by a mob of pro-Trump extremists, Republicans expressed shock and horror, but in the year since the attack on the Capitol, that shock and horror has melted into dismissal and deception.

Senate Republicans used the filibuster to kill legislation for a bipartisan commission investigating the riot, prompting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to establish a House select committee to conduct the investigation instead, endowing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy with the power to nominate five Republicans to the House commission.

Among McCarthy's picks were Republican Congressmen Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana—both of whom voted to toss electoral college votes in swing states former President Donald Trump lost in the 2020 election, further validating the very lies that incited the Capitol Riots. Because of their proximity to the investigation, Pelosi rejected these two nominees. McCarthy responded by pulling all of his Republican picks from the commission, leaving only two Republicans—Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois—both of whom were appointed by Pelosi.

Since then, Republicans have universally decried the committee's work, slamming it as partisan and censuring its remaining Republican members. Republican representatives have absurdly likened the attack to a tourist gathering and promoted conspiracy theories that Pelosi herself is somehow responsible for the insurrection. They've also baselessly suggested the entire riot was a false flag orchestrated by anti-Trump intelligence officials.

Far-right Congressman Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina became the most recent representative to promote these delusions.

In an interview with TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, Cawthorn said:

"I have to tell you, Charlie, I kind of want to keep the committee, as wild as that sounds. ... Because I think a lot of people actually do want to have answers to what happened on January 6. A lot of people actually want to know was our federal government involved? Was this a false flag operation used by the FBI, whatever three-letter agency you want to use? How many agents did we have inside, infiltrated in this crowd? What did Nancy Pelosi know and when did she know it? What did all the Capitol police leaders know and when did they know it? Why are we hiding all of these videos?"

Cawthorn recently heaped praise on former President Donald Trump, likening him to a personal father figure.

With the congressman's embrace of unhinged conspiracy theories, the "family" resemblance was readily apparent.

Others pointed to holes in Cawthorn's argument, like that Trump expressed support for pardoning the Capitol rioters.

Nonsense as usual.