On Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to create a committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. House Resolution 503 passed the House with most Democrats voting for the resolution and most Republicans voting against it. The committee was approved by a 222-190 vote. In Arizona, Democrats Tom O’Halleran, Ann Kirkpatrick, Raul Grijalva, Ruben Gallego, and Greg Stanton all voted yes to the resolution. Republicans Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, David Schweikert, and Debbie Lesko all voted against it.
In a press release, Rep. O’Halleran stated, “In the afternoon of January 6, 2021, I was on the House Floor, waiting to speak in support of Arizona’s verified election results, when insurrectionists attacked the building that represents our very democracy in an effort to stop members of Congress from fulfilling our constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 election. During this violence, five Americans, including a Capitol Police officer, lost their lives, and 140 police officers were injured. After the events of the 6th, two Capitol Police officers died by suicide.
“The events of January 6 merit a full and complete investigation, and the fact that the Senate was unable to pass a bipartisan 9/11-style commission is unacceptable. While this commission is not the non-partisan procedure we had advocated for, we must ensure this investigation is executed in a bipartisan manner and offers clear, fact-based, and unquestionable findings.
“As a former law enforcement officer and criminal investigator, I spent my career gathering facts and evidence to pursue truth and justice. This is not a partisan issue; this is a fact-finding endeavor that protects our democracy.”
Rep. Grijalva commented, “We have an obligation to determine the truth and facts surrounding the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol by violent insurrectionists. After Republicans shamefully defeated the creation of a 9/11-style commission and have pushed bizarre conspiracy theories to rewrite the history of that day, it is critical that we have a historical record of the event, understand its origins and the security failures that resulted in a breach of the Capitol, and ensure that it never happens again. The U.S. Capitol is a symbol of democracy around the world, and we must not allow a domestic terror attack to ever disrupt the peaceful transition of power and the future of our democracy.”
Rep. Biggs posted on Twitter, “Democrats are trying to intimidate Republicans in supporting their bogus Jan 6 committee. We aren’t falling for it.”
Democrats are trying to intimidate Republicans in supporting their bogus Jan 6 committee. We aren't falling for it.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) June 30, 2021
Check out my full reason for voting no on H.Res. 503 — Establishing a Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol pic.twitter.com/ZoGoKcD7TD
