Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins will be serving on the bipartisan House Task Force investigating the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
University of Louisiana Monroe political science professor Dr. Pearson Cross said Higgins is among the most conservative members of Congress, and his participation in the committee could be telling.
“If he says this was a good process and we got to the truth, I think there are a number of constituencies who will say, 'yes well, we trust Congressman Higgins,' so I think the task force did what it meant to do,” said Cross.
With several conspiracy theories circulating about the shooting, Cross believes Higgins will most likely bring a skeptical view to the panel which he believes is an asset if Higgins said it was a thorough investigation and he agrees with their findings.
“Then, I think that will tend to put to rest some of the conspiracy theories that have arisen around this. Of course, if he doesn’t do that and he says it was a coverup, then it could go the other way quickly,” said Cross.
The task force is composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats. Cross said it will be interesting to see the extent to which each member comes in with a set agenda: Are they there in a fact-finding role or will they bring in a preset view of what they think occurred?
“So, if people walk in with their minds already set on what the outcome will be, or what they think happened, I think it could be really destructive and it could be not very informative for the American people. I’m hoping very much that doesn’t happen,” said Cross.
Higgins released a statement that he’s looking forward to working with bipartisan colleagues to deliver the truth.