Two moderate Democratic senators on Tuesday announced their support for a congressionally-appointed commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
Calling the events of that day “horrific,” Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) said that a bipartisan commission to probe what happened “is a critical step to ensuring our nation never has to endure an attack at the hands of our countrymen again.”
“We implore our Senate Republican colleagues to work with us to find a path forward on a commission to examine the events of January 6th,” they added.
The House of Representatives on May 19 approved a bill that would create such a commission. The 10-member body, appointed by Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, would be granted subpoena power if the bill passes the Senate and is signed by President Joe Biden, who supports the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said the bill will be brought up for a vote.
But even with all 48 Democrats and two Democrat-minded independents in the upper chamber supporting a commission, at least 10 Republican votes are needed to pass the bill.
Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) said they back the legislation. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Tuesday that she supports it as well.
A number of GOP senators, though, have come out against a commission, at least for now.
