House Greenlights Select Committee for the Capitol Riot Probe
The House had approved to establish a select committee for the January 6 Capitol riot probe. The measure was passed with a 222-190 vote.
Earlier, Senate Republicans had blocked a previous effort to set up a bipartisan independent commission. Meanwhile, the committee empaneled in the House will not be needing approval from the Senate, according to The Wall Street Journal report.
The select committee will be appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with five members of the House that she will choose after consultation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Pelosi will also be the one who will pick the chairman of the said committee.
The House speaker said before the vote that it was clear the Capitol riot was not simply an attack on the building itself, but also an attack on democracy.
Pelosi added that every member knows that what happened on January 6 was an attempt to subvert democracy. However, she noted that many are still refusing to admit the truth.
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Opposition On The Capitol Riot Probe
Some of the Republicans who supported the independent commission voted against the select committee.
Those who opposed were Rep. John Katko of New York. Katko was the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee and helped broker the deal on a bipartisan commission with the committee's top Democrat, Chairman Bennie Thompson, according to an NPR report. Katko and other Republicans who earlier supported the commission voted against the select committee, saying it was partisan.
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler said in a statement that Pelosi's proposal to create a partisan committee of politicians to investigate the Capitol riot will not be viewed as credible by at least half of Americans. Beutler said that it will not also honestly look at her own failures in securing the Capitol building on that day.
The Washington representative also noted that it will not do the job and he is committed to exploring the truth. He added that he will not serve on it if asked.
Meanwhile, Republican Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney were the only two Republicans to vote in favor of the select committee with all Democrats. Kinzinger and Cheney were both known Trump critics, according to an ABC News Go report.
Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department were both present to watch the vote at Pelosi's invitation.
Select Committee
The select committee would have eight members on the committee chosen by Pelosi, with the other five appointed after consultation with McCarthy.
Republican participation in the investigation and the appointments of the committee could determine whether it is a bipartisan effort, according to an Associated Press News report.
Earlier last month, two Senate committees issued a bipartisan report with security recommendations. However, it did not examine the origins of the insurrection, which leaves many unanswered questions about the Capitol riot.
Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone and Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn implored McCarthy to take the House investigation seriously.
Fanone was said to be dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters, shocking him with a stun gun and beat him. He asked McCarthy not to put the "wrong people" on the panel.
Fanone said that McCarthy told him he would take the probe seriously.
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WATCH: Nancy Pelosi May Put Liz Cheney On Capitol Riot Select Committee - from MSNBC
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