In the same week when more and more Republican lawmakers were making light of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol – one Georgia representative even saying it looked to him like “a normal tourist visit” – top Democratic and Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee reached agreement on legislation to form a 9/11-style bipartisan Jan. 6 commission to investigate the riot and insurrection.
The agreement breaks a months-long stalemate. Can you imagine that the original 9/11 commission would ever have been stalled for months by one political party or another?
But since the Trump-incited Jan. 6 attack when he called on hundreds of his supporters to “fight like Hell” as Congress certified the Electoral College’s vote cementing Joe Biden’s election, Republicans have slowly inched themselves away from the statements they made at the end of that day.
Then those Republicans were still shocked after the violent rioters stormed the Capitol, broke windows and doors, and injured 140 police officers – including one who later died from a stroke after being sprayed by rioters with bear spray – and sent lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence fleeing for their lives. All told, the riot resulted in five deaths and more than 400 eventual arrests.
Under the terms of the agreement announced Friday, the commission would have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, five from each party. It would have subpoena power and be charged with issuing a final report by Dec. 31, along with recommendations to prevent future attacks. It would be chaired by a Democrat and vice-chaired by a Republican.