‘Politics is Trump’: Furious reaction as Republicans vote down Capitol riot commission
‘I’m very very disappointed, very frustrated that politics is Trump, literally and figuratively,’ centrist Democrat Joe Manchin says
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Democrats and moderate Republicans were left seething after GOP senators blocked the creation of a commission to investigate the 6 January Capitol riot.
“I’m very very disappointed, very frustrated that politics is Trump, literally and figuratively,” centrist Democratic senator Joe Manchin told Forbes after the vote.
Rep Liz Cheney, meanwhile, thanked the Republicans who did vote for the bill.
“Thank you to Senators Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Portman, Sasse, and Romney for voting for truth and defence of our constitution,” tweeted the embattled congresswoman, who has faced blowback within her party for opposing Donald Trump’s lies. “History will remember those who put country ahead of politics.”
The bill, which would have established a bipartisan investigation similar to the 9/11 Commission, fell six votes short of the 60 needed to pass the Senate. The vote was largely along partisan lines, with 35 Republicans voting against it and nine Republicans not voting at all.
‘Shame on the Republican party’: GOP senators block Capitol riot commission
These six Senate Republicans defied Trump to back Capitol riot commission
McConnell reportedly asks GOP senators to vote against Capitol riot commission as ‘personal favor’
Family of Capitol officer who died after riot ask for meetings with every GOP senator to urge commission
Democratic leaders in Congress were furious.
“What are you afraid of, the truth?” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asked his GOP colleagues in a scathing speech. “Are you afraid that Donald Trump’s big lie will be dispelled?”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made similar comments on Twitter.
“Republicans are scared of the truth,” she wrote. “What are they hiding?”
The 6 January mob attack was largely motivated by the lie – sometimes called the “Big Lie” – that the 2020 election had been stolen. Former President Trump propagated that fiction for months, including in an incendiary speech to his supporters just before they attacked Congress.
The proposed commission would have investigated the origins of that attack, and how to prevent similar violence in the future. Some Senate Republicans – namely, the six thanked by Ms Cheney – supported that mission. But most, including their leader, did not. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly asked his caucus to vote down the bill as a “personal favour” to him.
“Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans’ denial of the truth of the January 6th insurrection brings shame to the Senate,” Ms Pelosi wrote in a longer statement. “Republicans’ cowardice in rejecting the truth of that dark day makes our Capitol and our country less safe.”
Ms Pelosi added that Senate Democrats had agreed to “everything that Republicans asked for” to make sure the commission was bipartisan, but the GOP voted against it anyway.
“In not taking yes for an answer, Republicans clearly put their election concerns above the security of the Congress and country,” she wrote.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments