Mitch McConnell opposes commission on Capitol riot despite denouncing Trump for inciting it

Kentucky Republican says he will reject ‘slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study’ events of 6 January

Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has announced that he will oppose the bipartisan House bill to create a commission to investigate the 6 January Capitol riot.

The Kentucky senator indicated on Tuesday that he was still undecided on the issue, but came to a final decision on Wednesday, telling his party that the proposed independent commission as envisioned by the House was not to his liking.

The stance by the powerful Republican casts doubt on the bill’s ability to prevail and become law.

“After careful consideration. I’ve made the decision to oppose the House Democrats slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study the events of January 6,” Mr McConnell said on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

Mr McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that he wanted to “read the fine print” before making a final decision. He shared his views on Wednesday morning at a Republican senators’ breakfast hosted by Missouri Senator Roy Blunt.

Mr Blunt is part of the Senate investigation into what took place on 6 January and has previously made his opposition to a commission clear, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

“If it’s gonna go forward, it needs to be clearly balanced and not tilted one way or the other so we have an objective evaluation,” Mr McConnell said on Tuesday, before calling the proposal “slanted and unbalanced” on Wednesday.

The bill is expected to pass the House later on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr McConnell said the commission could impact the federal prosecutions of Capitol rioters already underway. Another objection to the proposal pushed by Mr McConnell was that it appeared to give the chairman, selected by Democrats, the authority to hire and fire commission staff.

On the Senate floor on Wednesday morning, Mr McConnell argued that the currently ongoing congressional investigations are enough.

“It’s not at all clear what new facts or additional investigation yet another commission could lay on top of the existing efforts by law enforcement and Congress,” he said.

“The facts have come out, they’ll continue to come out. What is clear is that House Democrats have handled this proposal in partisan bad faith going right back to the beginning, from initially offering a laughably partisan starting point to continuing to insist on various other features under the hood that are designed to centralise control over the commission’s process and its conclusions in Democratic hands,” Mr McConnell added.

The bill now looks likely to fail in the Senate, as it seems increasingly unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass the filibuster.

The seven Republican senators who voted to convict during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in February are thought to be likely to support the commission. But other Republicans are expected to line up behind party leadership and reject the legislation.

New York Republican Rep John Katko struck a deal with Democrats to create a commission with 10 members and equal representation for both parties. It would also have the power to issue subpoenas.

Several House Republicans have said that they may vote to support the creation of the commission.

The McConnell announcement comes after Republican House minority leader Kevin McCarthy said he was also opposed to the bill.

“Given the political misdirections that have marred this process, given the now duplicative and potentially counterproductive nature of this effort, and given the Speaker’s shortsighted scope that does not examine interrelated forms of political violence in America, I cannot support this legislation,” he said on Tuesday.

Democratic Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer of New York said on the chamber floor on Wednesday that “what the Republicans are doing ... is beyond crazy to be so far under the thumb of Donald J Trump. Letting the most dishonest president in American history dictate the prerogatives of the Republican Party will be its demise”.

Mr McConnell voted to acquit Mr Trump during his second impeachment trial following the 6 January insurrection. But he said afterwards that the former president was “practically and morally responsible” for the attack. While Mr McCarthy is still in touch with Mr Trump, Mr McConnell has no contact with him.

Slamming Mr Trump, Mr McConnell said in mid-February after the impeachment trial: “There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president.”

“The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things,” he added.

Explaining his vote to acquit, he said: “We have no power to convict and disqualify a former officeholder who is now a private citizen.”

“The American people will see for themselves whether our Republican friends stand on the side of the truth or on the side of Donald Trump’s big lie,” Mr Schumer said on Wednesday. He was referring to Mr Trump’s continued insistence that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite a lack of evidence to back up his baseless claims.

The House bill wants the commission to not only review the security of the Capitol complex but also look at “the influencing factors that fomented such attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process”. The legislation also proposes that the commission makes suggestions for actions to be taken.