McConnell now opposes the January 6 commission after Trump demanded he oppose it
Bait and switch: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) publicly announced his opposition Wednesday to a 9/11-style commission. Pretty much where we were when previous guy got impeached a second time.
Why it matters: The House is set to vote Wednesday on creating the bipartisan commission, also opposed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), that would investigate the “facts and circumstances” of the Capitol attack led largely by supporters of former President Trump.
Between the lines, via Axios’ Alayna Treene: Most Republican members are wary of the commission and want to reframe the narrative away from the insurrection.
There’s also concerns it might alienate members of the GOP base, as well as Trump — who was impeached by the House for inciting the riot.
What he’s saying: “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 the 6th,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
“Federal law enforcement have made at least 445 arrests and counting relating to crimes committed that day. Hundreds of those people have been charged. Law enforcement investigations are ongoing and federal authorities say they expect to arrest at least 100 or so more.”
“Bipartisan investigations are also underway and have been for months at the committee level here in the Senate. So there is, has been, and there will continue to be, no shortage — no shortage — of robust investigations by two separate branches of the federal government.”
If Senate Republicans ultimately block a bipartisan bill to create an independent commission to probe the Jan. 6 attack, Democrats in the House could establish a select committee to investigate the insurrection.
Previous guys whines: “All I Do is Get Attacked and Abused” … 29+ lawsuits
No former president has ever been indicted for criminal conduct, and presidents are argued to have immunity from prosecution while in office, but things have changed.
The usually blustery ex-president reportedly told an associate that since leaving office, he’s worried people across the country are going to be “suing me for the rest of my life.”
He now faces more than a dozen high-profile lawsuits and investigations. A recent Washington Post analysis put the total number at 29 pending cases. Here’s what you need to know.
I'm fine with extracting a political price for Republican intransigence to investigate Jan. 6, but once that's over Democrats in Congress need to use their power to do the work and get answers through the committee process.
Yes they're hypocrites, they relentlessly prosecuted Benghazi and they'll do the same thing with whatever they can if they control Congress under a Democratic president again.
They are not afraid to wield the power that they have. Can't just whine about it, gotta do the work.
Not a veto. All 5 GOP appointees would have to vote against subpoenas. This is bi-partisan compromise against GOP leadership wishes that puts focus on 1/6 insurrection and not on BLM or Antifa. If the commission fails, Dems can investigate in House, but won’t have same gravitas.
