As lawmakers debate the creation of a commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, former President Donald Trump is expressing his strong disagreement with such a move.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Trump said, “Republicans in the House and Senate should not approve the Democrat trap of the January 6 Commission. It is just more partisan unfairness and unless the murders, riots, and fire bombings in Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Chicago, and New York are also going to be studied, this discussion should be ended immediately.”
He added, “Republicans must get much tougher and much smarter, and stop being used by the Radical Left. Hopefully, Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are listening!”
Read the statement below:
NEW Trump statement on a January 6 commission: pic.twitter.com/nAajdtv0Br
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) May 19, 2021
The House is expected to pass legislation to establish a bipartisan commission to look into the insurrection when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
Trump was impeached on the charge of incitement of insurrection for what lawmakers say was his role in instigating the violence. He was acquitted by the Senate in February.
However, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has voiced his opposition to the probe, “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.”
“The presence of this political violence in American society cannot be tolerated and it cannot be overlooked. I have communicated this to our Democrat colleagues for months and its omission is deeply concerning,” he added.
Additionally, Punchbowl News reported that House Republican leadership is urging members to vote against the commission.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated on Tuesday that Senate Republicans are divided on the issue. He told reporters, “If it’s gonna go forward, it needs to be clearly balanced and not tilted one way or the other. So we have an objective evaluation.”
“It’s safe for you to report that we are undecided,” he added.