Within 24 hours of a right-wing anti-abortion group releasing videos attacking Planned Parenthood, Republicans announced wide-ranging investigations into the organization on July 15, 2015. Three months later with nothing to show for its urgent effort, the GOP turned up the heat, forming a special committee to delve into the matter.

“Even if Planned Parenthood complied with the law, it’s clear we need to learn more about their barbaric tactics," said the ever-insightful GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.

Even a full year after the complete and utter failure of the investigation had totally vindicated Planned Parenthood of engaging in any legal wrongdoing, Speaker Paul Ryan praised the work of the "Select Panel on Infant Lives to investigate Planned Parenthood," and Republicans quietly authorized another $500,000 so the panel could continue examining the rabbit hole it had stormed into. Last December, Republicans sought another $800,000 in taxpayer funding to continue the fruitless chase. Finally, in January, $1.59 million and 15 months later, the select panel was disbanded when it occurred to Republicans they might have better things to do now that they owned the entire government.

Those “to dos” still do not include forming a special committee to investigate Donald Trump's possible collusion with a hostile foreign power to fundamentally subvert our democracy. Sure, the FBI is investigating Russia’s ties to the White House, but that’s just not compelling enough for the GOP.

To review: Doctored Planned Parenthood tapes required immediate action and a continued commitment to the tune of millions from Republicans despite a select panel’s failure to produce any credible evidence.

But the possibility of treason paving the way for an illegitimate presidency? Meh. Paul Ryan isn't persuaded.