After the Republicans blocked an independent inquiry into the events of January 6, the lower house of the United States Congress approved, Wednesday, June 30, the creation of a special commission on the murderous assault on Capitol Hill led by supporters of Donald Trump.
The commission will be charged “To investigate and report the facts, circumstances and causes related to the domestic terrorist attack of January 6, 2021”, specifies the text of the law.
“It is obvious that January 6 was not just an attack on a building”, the Capitol where Congress sits in Washington, “But an attack on our democracy”, wrote the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
The creation of the special committee was approved by 222 votes – the 220 House Democrats and two Republicans – against 190 votes against, all Republicans. For the majority of Republicans, it cannot be impartial. Only two of them, very critical of Donald Trump, voted in his favor: Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
No deadline
At the end of May, the Republican leaders had opposed the creation of an independent commission, with five experts from outside Congress chosen by the Democrats and five others chosen by the Republicans, on the exact model of the one created after September 11. They felt that the parliamentary investigations already underway and the work of the police were sufficient.
The Democrats have therefore opted for this commission which will be made up of elected representatives and supposed to centralize the multiple parliamentary inquiries already launched.
With the power to summon witnesses or demand documents, the special commission has no deadline for rendering its findings. It will be composed of thirteen members appointed by the Democratic leader, including five “After consultations” with the leader of the Republican minority.
Nancy Pelosi promised that this commission “Will find out the truth” on the attack perpetrated by pro-Trump protesters when parliamentarians gathered to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the November 2020 presidential election.
Since January, at least 500 people involved in the attack have been found and then charged for more or less serious charges. Accused of“Incitement to insurgency” by the Democrats in impeachment proceedings, Donald Trump was acquitted in February by the Senate, then led by the Republicans.
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