There appears to be growing momentum in the U.S. Senate to intrust a bipartisan commission to investigated the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin — a Democrat with a history of bucking the party on key issues — said Thursday he supports the creation of a Jan 6. commission, and went as far accusing Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of living in fear of former President Donald Trump, according a statement published to Twitter.
- “There is no excuse for any Republican to vote against this commission since Democrats have agreed to everything they ask for.”
- “Mitch McConnell has made this his political position, thinking it will help his 2022 election. They do not believe the truth will set you free, so they continue to live in fear,” the West Virginia Democrat tweeted.
The proposed bipartisan Jan. 6 commission would be made up of 10 nonelected officials, five appointed by Democrats and five appointed Republicans, the Deseret News reported.
My statement on the January 6th Commission: pic.twitter.com/ZfNhQfKzmh
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) May 27, 2021
Senators prepare to vote on Jan 6. commission
Senate Minority Leader McConnell, R-Ky., has said publicly that he opposes the idea of a bipartisan commission to investigate the attack on Capitol, calling the proposal “slanted and unbalanced.”
- Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have publicly said they would vote for the commission, while Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have said they may support Jan. 6 commission if changes were made to a House bill commissioning the investigation, The Hill reported.
- The Senate could vote as early as Thursday on the Jan. 6 commission legislation.
- Ten Republicans would have to join Manchin and 49 Democrats to make the Senate bill filibuster proof.
Trump attacks ‘wayward’ House Republicans
House Democrats were joined by 35 of their Republican colleagues on May 19 to pass the “National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act” with a 252-175 vote.
- Trump — who was impeached (a second time) for “incitement of insurrection” in the Jan. 6 attack — called the 35 House Republicans who voted for the commission “wayward.”
- “Sometimes there are consequences to being ineffective and weak. The voters understand!” Trump added in a message posted to his “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” blog.