Just hours before a vote was to be taken in the House of Representatives on the formation of a bipartisan commission to investigate what transpired on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced that he will not support the creation of such a commission, a move that could well doom the chances of the American people ever learning exactly what happened on that fateful day.
In a statement he issued Tuesday morning, McCarthy wrote:
“Given the political misdirections that have marred this process, given the now duplicative and potentially counterproductive nature of this effort, and given the speaker’s shortsighted scope that does not examine interrelated forms of political violence in America. I cannot support this legislation.”
According to the Washington Post, McCarthy wanted the commission to look at protest movements that have absolutely nothing to do with the Capitol insurrection:
“McCarthy said he wanted the new panel to look beyond the violent uprising by supporters loyal to Donald Trump, who were trying to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s election. He pushed to have the new commission also investigate other groups, namely the Black Lives Matter groups that protested police violence in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.”
Within minutes, social media lit up with criticism of McCarthy, who was dubbed by some as a “coward” and a “traitor.”
He complains that a congressional commission into the Capitol insurrection would be “duplicative” but @GOPLeader had no problem with the eight different congressional inquiries into Benghazi — six of which were led by his own House Republicans. https://t.co/6QwBxlCBEz
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) May 18, 2021
You’ll be shocked to learn that Kevin McCarthy — who has clearly been coordinating his January 6th story with Trump — doesn’t want people to find out the truth about January 6th. https://t.co/rkJ27k4Y6M
— LOL🇺🇸GOP (@LOLGOP) May 18, 2021
The “shortsighted scope” thing always makes me laugh. It’s like if Democrats demanded that the Benghazi Committee be expanded to probe the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. https://t.co/yCasGmcodw
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) May 18, 2021
Kevin McCarthy is a traitor to our Constitution and our Democracy. https://t.co/4v4bZfrtQN
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) May 18, 2021
I still can’t believe that republicans let Trump walk on treason. That’s gonna fester in me forever. They let him attack the US Capitol in broad daylight to try to overthrow the election/government. Their gall is matched only by their contempt for the American people they failed
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) May 18, 2021
Disgusting @GOPLeader is casting aside bipartisan commission on the Jan 6 insurrection. He has failed to live up to his oath to support & defend the Constitution, continues to promote the big lie & believes he can whitewash his complicity. #Demandaccountability #HereRightMatters
— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) May 18, 2021
If the GOP refuses to go along with creating a commission, maybe Attorney General Merrick Garland should appoint a special counsel for that purpose. Give the special counsel full subpoena power and put both Trump and McCarthy under oath so we can find out what they knew and when they knew it.
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