This proposed rule aligns directly with the Jan. 6 Committee's so-called purpose of accountability and — once a House Speaker is elected — should be undertaken. An apparent scramble to lock up the documents for up to 50 years casts an ominous shadow on the committee's investigation and begs the — ironic — question, what is it hiding?
While transparency is important, so is the anonymity and safety of witnesses in the Jan. 6 investigation. The committee has promised to publicize the bulk of its investigation — and has already begun to fulfill that pledge — but it has to balance privacy concerns. Either way, Congress ultimately retains ownership of the records and can revisit whether they should be released at a later time. This proposed rule is not only senseless but divisive.