House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) listen during a news conference.
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Another option for House Republicans seeking to erase Trump from the narrative of Jan. 6 failures would be using the Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over elections and Capitol security, to launch an investigation next year. Retiring Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, now the panel’s top Republican, and aspiring Administration successor Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) have both proposed that idea.

“I don’t know why you would need a select committee. The Senate didn’t need a select committee to do their job,” Davis said.

Then there’s a likely House GOP probe of Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings. Gaetz raised eyebrows within the conference recently by meeting with former Trump White House adviser Sebastian Gorka, who is floating himself as a potential staff director next year for an investigation of the First Son.

Gaetz said he met with Gorka “to discuss general strategy for a Republican expected majority, and I wanted his perspective on whether or not he would advise … one committee owning the Hunter Biden stuff.” The Floridian, who praised Comer’s work, said a potential select committee is part of discussions he’s having.

Comer, whose panel is expected to take the lead on a probe of the president’s son, shot down the notion of a select committee. And if one does take shape, a House Republican who spoke candidly on condition of anonymity said bluntly that Gaetz “will never lead that.”

The possible future Oversight chair also counseled his colleagues against letting themselves get pulled into the investigative weeds.

“We’ll request information, we’ll dig, we’ll do anything,” Comer said. “But I’m not putting my name on anything that’s not factual.”