The Home’s particular committee investigating the occasions of the January 6 Capitol riot has drawn loads of consideration to the difficulty over its a number of public hearings over the summer time. The general public hearings, in line with legal expert Samuel Dewey, drew on different noteworthy congressional investigations as inspiration for a way it might proceed.
Congressional hearings date again to 1792 within the Home of Representatives and 1818 within the Senate. They’re a vital software that Congress can use to not solely collect pertinent information about a difficulty but additionally draw the general public’s consideration to those points.
Beneath are 5 well-known congressional investigations in historical past that paved the way in which for the January 6 committee’s work.
Committee to Examine the Ku Klux Klan
Congress created a committee in 1871 meant to research incidents of intimidation and violence towards Black voters throughout the nation. Over the following yr, the committee interviewed greater than 600 witnesses, who testified to systemic violence being dedicated by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
The investigations obtained loads of media consideration, but many U.S. residents nonetheless questioned whether or not the KKK even existed. The minority report within the investigation was produced by Democrats, and used racist language that finally legitimized the actions of the KKK.
Following the investigations, a lot of this language that was contained within the minority report was utilized by segments of the inhabitants for years — exhibiting the profound long-term influence congressional investigations can have.
Teapot Dome
A congressional investigation within the early Nineteen Twenties helped to uncover corruption within the administration of then-President Warren G. Harding. Senators on the panel uncovered proof that confirmed the federal government leased federal oil fields in secret to a few of their political allies. In whole, the contracts had been valued at greater than $3 billion in at the moment’s cash.
The committee’s investigation resulted in Albert Fall, the Secretary of the Inside, stepped down from his place. He was convicted of bribery fees in a while, making him the primary member of a Cupboard sentenced to serve time in jail.
Kefauver Committee
One other congressional investigation within the Nineteen Fifties was dubbed the Kefauver Committee, named after Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, who served as its chair.
The committee investigated information articles that had been suggesting organized crime was enjoying a corrupt position in native authorities. The hearings attracted the eye of practically your complete nation. Estimates say roughly 90% of TVs within the nation watched the hearings.
This was maybe the primary public spectacle in congressional listening to historical past. Mobsters had been interviewed, as had been former elected officers and the girlfriends of mobsters on stay TV.
Watergate
Maybe probably the most notorious scandal in U.S. historical past, the Watergate scandal was investigated after a unanimous 77-0 vote within the Senate to ascertain a particular committee.
Then-President Richard Nixon by no means cooperated with the committee’s investigation, and he directed all of his aides to fall in line — claiming government privilege within the course of. It’s the same tactic that former President Donald Trump has used within the January 6 committee’s investigation.
The Supreme Court docket ultimately dominated in favor of the Senate committee of their bid to realize entry to the paperwork that overwhelmingly proved the president had participated in a cover-up for the Watergate break-in.
Spying on U.S. Residents
Samuel Dewey explains that, throughout its investigations, the Watergate Committee uncovered proof that the intelligence neighborhood was spying on U.S. residents unconstitutionally.
As such, a separate committee was established to research. Over 16 months, the committee uncovered proof that every presidential administration beginning with FDR via Nixon abused the authority it had in a roundabout way.
About Samuel Dewey
Samuel Dewey is a profitable lawyer and former Senior Counsel to the US Home of Representatives Monetary Providers Committee and Chief Investigator and Counsel to the U.S. Senate Particular Committee on Growing older. Mr Dewey makes a speciality of: (1) white collar investigations, compliance, and litigation; (2) regulatory compliance and litigation; and (3) complicated public coverage issues. Inside these fields Mr. Dewey is taken into account an professional in Congressional investigations and attendant issues. Mr. Dewey has a BA in Political Science, a JD from Harvard, and is admitted to apply legislation in Washington, DC, and Maryland.
