House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stated that Congress will establish an independent body similar to the 9/11 Commission to look at the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.
“It is clear from his findings and from the impeachment trial that we must get to the truth of how this happened,” she said in a statement on Monday. “To protect our security, our security, our security, our next step will be to establish an outside, independent 9/11-type Commission to ‘investigate and report on the facts and causes’” of the breach.
In a letter to her Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said the House will also put forth supplemental spending to boost security at the Capitol. Previously, she asked retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré to lead a review of the Capitol’s security processes.
She added, “As we prepare for the Commission, it is also clear from General Honoré’s interim reporting that we must put forth a supplemental appropriation to provide for the safety of Members and the security of the Capitol.”
The statement comes after Trump was acquitted in the Senate after the House impeached him for allegedly inciting violence at the Capitol. Trump, for his part, told supporters on Jan. 6 to protest “peacefully and patriotically,” while his lawyers argued that his comments to demonstrators were protected under the First Amendment.
House impeachment managers led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) argued that Trump was solely responsible for the breach. Ultimately, seven Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to convict Trump, drawing intense criticism from their respective state Republican Parties.
The Republicans who joined Cassidy in voting to convict were Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
In response to his acquittal, Trump stated, “Our cherished Constitutional Republic was founded on the impartial rule of law, the indispensable safeguard for our liberties, our rights, and our freedoms.”
“It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree,” he said. “I always have, and always will be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.”
