Spotlight turns to GOP’s McCarthy in Jan. 6 probe

The public spotlight around the investigation into the Capitol attack of Jan. 6 has shifted squarely onto Rep. Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyGOP hopes spending traps derail Biden agenda Cheney, Thompson slam McCarthy’s comments about Trump, Jan. 6: ‘Baseless’ Hillicon Valley — Apple delays features to detect sexual exploitation MORE (Calif.), the GOP leader who has emerged as the face of defiant opposition to the congressional probe into the deadly riot.

McCarthy has long been a figure of interest to the select committee given his phone call with then-President TrumpDonald TrumpDemocratic donors hesitant on wading into Florida midterm fights Migrant caravan leaves southern Mexico, headed to US Media’s Afghanistan ‘defeat’ — It’s only half the story MORE amid the insurrection, in which the president allegedly suggested the pro-Trump rioters were more patriotic than the lawmakers under siege. McCarthy has acknowledged the call occurred but has repeatedly declined to discuss specific details.

The focus on his role, and any involvement from other Republicans, has only intensified over the past week, when McCarthy took the remarkable step of threatening the nation’s tech and telecom giants with unnamed repercussions if they comply with the investigators’ request to retain the phone and social media records of GOP lawmakers who actively supported the effort to block President BidenJoe BidenAt least 1,000 US schools have closed due to Covid since late July: report Democratic donors hesitant on wading into Florida midterm fights Biden granddaughter Naomi engaged MORE‘s electoral victory.

“If companies still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law,” McCarthy warned.

McCarthy, who is reportedly among the Republicans named in that request, did not specify the potential consequences — and Democrats quickly accused him of felonious attempts to impede a congressional investigation. But his aggressive resistance to examining the events of Jan. 6 has won him favor with Trump and his supporters on and off of Capitol Hill — a boost to the Republicans’ effort to retake the House, and a likely prerequisite if McCarthy is to achieve his goal of becoming Speaker in 2023.

Led by Rep. Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonCheney, Thompson slam McCarthy’s comments about Trump, Jan. 6: ‘Baseless’ Cheney elevated as vice chair of Jan. 6 committee Hillicon Valley: Agencies on alert for ransomware attacks ahead of Labor Day weekend MORE (D-Miss.), the nine-member select committee has already held one hearing into the Jan. 6 attack, featuring four police officers defending the Capitol that day, and is eyeing several more when Congress returns from its long summer recess later this month.

Meanwhile, panel members have been busy behind the scenes hunting documents related to the tragic episode, including the issuance of numerous records requests to various…