US House approves Capitol attack probe as 35 Republicans defy Donald Trump
- The modest but still significant number of defectors highlights a rift in the Republican Party as its leaders seek to downplay the deadly siege
- The measure now goes to the Senate, where Democrats face an uphill fight to garner at least 10 Republican ‘yes’ votes they will need to prevail
Thirty-five House Republicans joined Democrats Wednesday in voting to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, risking the wrath of former president Donald Trump and flouting party leaders who condemned the proposal as unfairly partisan and unneeded.
The Republican mavericks were led by New York congressman John Katko, who wrote the measure with Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat.
Katko, that panel‘s top Republican, was battling two tides that have overwhelmed Congress in recent years: the nearly overwhelming potency Trump still has among Republicans and a jagged-edged partisanship that often confounds even mundane legislation.
“I encourage all members, Republicans and Democrats alike, to put down their swords for once, just for once, and support this bill,” Katko said.
A moderate and a former prosecutor, Katko defended the proposed commission as a fair and needed step toward understanding the incident, how it happened and what security improvements the Capitol needs to prevent a future assault.