Why is Rep. Andy Biggs afraid to testify under oath before the Jan. 6 committee?

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs makes a lousy victim.

I mean, he’s trying. He’s really, really trying to portray himself as a martyr, a fall guy, a scapegoat, a sacrificial lamb.

But peeking out from beneath the wooly blanket of indignation Biggs is hiding under is a partisan wolf’s clothing.

Biggs and several other Republican members of Congress with connections to the insurrection of Jan. 6, the so-called “Stop the Steal” demonstrations and the effort to overturn a duly certified presidential election were subpoenaed by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

The committee has tried to talk to speak with Biggs before.

Why is Biggs thowing a political hissy-fit?

He rebuffed them.

So the committee issued subpoenas to Biggs and other members of Congress, saying in part that they want to hear from “those who had direct conversations with President Trump leading up to and during the attack, and those who were involved in the planning and coordination of certain activities on and before Jan. 6. … Before we hold our hearings next month, we wished to provide members the opportunity to discuss these matters with the committee voluntarily. Regrettably, the individuals receiving subpoenas today have refused and we’re forced to take this step.”

No Jan. 6 punishment:Arizona Supreme Court won't remove Biggs from ballot

Biggs, of course, is shocked, shocked to find there is politics being played in Washington, D.C.

He called the committee “pure political theater.” He said the members are conducting a “baseless witch hunt.”

He said, “I will not be participating in the illegitimate and Democrat-sympathizing House Jan. 6 committee panel. The committee has been a sham since its origins. Its entire purpose is to destroy President Trump and his supporters, intimidate members of Congress, and distract Americans from real issues that are destroying this country. The committee operates with the same kind of bias present at the Salem Witch Trials. Everyone is guilty and must demonstrate their innocence. They are basing their witch-hunt on dubious media accounts.”

A political hissy fit like that begs one simple question:

Why is Biggs afraid of testifying under oath?

The 'witch trial' involving Hillary Clinton

Because as far as “witch trials” go, there has been nothing – nothing – in American history to match the Republican-led investigations into the Benghazi terrorist attack in Libya in 2012 that left four Americans dead.

There were eight, count ‘em, eight investigations into that event. The final one, lasting two years and costing taxpayers $7 million, was aimed almost solely at Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of state when the attack occurred and was at the time of the investigation running for president.

It does not get more partisan than that.

But did Clinton run and hide? Did she refuse to participate in a partisan witch hunt?

Nope.

She sat for sworn testimony, answering the committee’s mostly hostile questions, for eight hours. All of it broadcast on national TV.

In the end, following an investigation that went on longer than the 9/11 commission, the Republican-run committee found no wrongdoing on Clinton’s part.

Biggs could do the same thing as Hillary did – face down the committee.

He could have his say.

In public.

Under oath.

After all, with nothing to hide and righteous indignation on his side, what is there to be afraid of?

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.