Republicans Block Formation of Jan. 6 Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Republicans have blocked the formation of a new special commission that would have investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In what was the first use of the Senate filibuster this year, Republicans stood broadly opposed to the commission in a vote to open debate on Friday, despite Democratic hopes that the effort would gain bipartisan support.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) changed his tone after initially signaling he would support the effort. Earlier this week, he and other Republicans said they worried the nonpartisan effort to study the riot that left five dead would be politically disadvantageous for Republicans. Although a few Republican senators supported the commission, Democrats did not have the 60 votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority.