The House January 6 Select Committee’s public hearings, which begin Thursday, pose both a moment of opportunity and peril for the committee — and for American democracy, which was attacked nearly a year and a half ago. If the committee presents its findings in a clear and compelling manner, it can remind the public of the danger we faced on that day and the ongoing threat to our democratic institutions. But if the committee falters, then the public might never fully understand the continuing relevance of the January 6 attack, and those responsible might not face meaningful consequences for their actions.