The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Democrats challenge credibility of GOP witnesses who embrace false Jan. 6 claims

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Updated March 4, 2023 at 2:18 p.m. EST|Published March 3, 2023 at 11:11 a.m. EST
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 9. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
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correction

An earlier version of this article erroneously said former FBI official Stephen Friend had not reported to a supervisor one of his concerns related to the use of a SWAT team in arrests related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots. He said he did tell the supervisor, but he did not mention it in a written declaration, according to a report from Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. The article has been corrected.

House Republicans vowing to uncover a “weaponization” of the federal government against conservatives have so far called witnesses who have not presented any evidence of wrongdoing at the Justice Department and FBI but have peddled conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to Democrats on the panel who have heard their interviews.