The House passed a bill to create a commission to further investigate the January 6 Capitol Hill break-in. The legislation moved forward despite widespread GOP opposition. The bill, which passed Wednesday in a 252-to-175 vote, garnered support from all House Democrats and 35 Republicans.
House GOP leaders urged Republicans to vote against it, including Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). GOP lawmakers argued the commission is unnecessary since there are already ongoing probes into January 6.
“But I do not believe a January 6 commission will achieve any resolution because we have already had our Department of Justice arrest 445 people with 100 more to be arrested soon,” asserted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he objects because the commission does not look into other forms of political violence that took place last summer. Additionally, President Trump called it a Democrat trap and said it’s “just more partisan unfairness.”
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that the commission could get in the way of the ongoing federal investigation. The bill is expected to face a steep climb in the Senate, considering McConnell has already expressed opposition to the legislation.