The Jan. 6 committee punctuated its 10th and possibly final public hearing with an unforgettable scene: The nine-person panel voted live, on air, to subpoena former President Donald Trump for his role in the 2021 attack on the Capitol.
It's unlikely Trump will ever appear in front of the group, but the solemn proclamations of "aye" from its members may do as much to shift public opinion as the prospect of Trump testifying under oath. It was a powerful finale in a year of public hearings filled with bombshells, while also holding out the promise of more to come in future.
The dramatic last moments of the broadcast did what any great cliffhanger must: Redirect attention away from what's already happened to what could happen. After months spent drilling down on all of the alleged schemes and misdeeds that led to a violent insurrection, justice might finally be served. Washington's bad actors might finally be held accountable for their scheme to overturn an election.
