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Pelosi’s sham Jan. 6 committee is wasting a valuable opportunity

By Post Editorial Board

August 1, 2021 | 6:31pm | Updated August 1, 2021 | 6:31pm

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s unapologetically partisan select committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot won’t fool anyone not already duped by her distorted narrative.

The committee held its first hearing last week with emotional testimony from law-enforcement officers present at the attack, but nothing can distract from her sorry excuse for a fair investigation. And her approach is a real shame because a truly impartial understanding of the events that day, and the run-up to it, would be useful not only in preventing anything similar in the future, but also in helping tame the partisan fury (from both sides) that fueled the attack in the first place.

Alas, Pelosi’s not interested in that: Indeed, she made history by blocking two of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s committee appointments, Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), both vocal supporters of former President Donald Trump. Now, only two Republicans sit on the committee, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both OK’d by Pelosi for their opposition to Trump.

GOP House leaders also note that Pelosi likely shares some responsibility for the lack of preparation on Jan. 6 and wants to be sure committee members won’t put her on the hot seat.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) accused Pelosi of rejecting Banks and Jordan because they were asking “tough questions” and condemned her for having “completely debased” the panel’s “legitimacy.”

Americans are increasingly coming to that same conclusion: Backing for the panel among voters has fallen eight points, to 58 percent, since June, a Politico/Morning Consult poll found.

No matter: When its work is done, the committee no doubt will lay all the blame at Trump’s feet and clear Pelosi. And a valuable opportunity will have been wasted.