Despite Republicans dragging their feet and digging in their heels against an investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capital Building, a select committee investigating the attack has been formed and will begin their first hearing on July 27.
House Democrats are plowing ahead on investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection with or without Republican leadership participation, scheduling the first select committee hearing on July 27 https://t.co/cdjWonNYtp
— POLITICO (@politico) July 14, 2021
For their first hearing, committee members will hear from police officers who were on the scene that day, including members of the Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Capitol Police. Far from telling the story Republicans have tried to push, a story about how things were mostly peaceful except for a few “tourists” who were protesting, the officers will recount their firsthand experience with Capitol rioters who attacked police with flag poles and bear spray.
According to POLITICO:
‘Those officers and many others spent hours under assault by rioters on Jan. 6, with dozens injured and many others left with lasting trauma from the day. More than 70 Capitol Police officers have retired or resigned from the force since the insurrection, according to their union.’
Despite the GOP’s public freakout in 2020 about conversations around defunding police departments to redirect funding for things like mental health care and addiction services, that same GOP has so far refused to fund the police officers who will be sitting for these hearings.
‘The hearing comes as the Capitol Police and the National Guard face a potential cash crunch going into August. Facing increased costs from responding to the insurrection and its aftermath, the USCP is running out of money for salaries. Additionally, the National Guard could be forced to cut training if Congress does not grant more funding.’
Liz Cheney tells @MZanona that McCarthy shouldn’t pick select committee members who challenge the legitimacy of 2020 election or who downplay Jan. 6. "And I would certainly hope that the minority leader will be guided by that as he makes his choices." https://t.co/KqEfDduZhC
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 14, 2021
Despite the arguments over funding, Capitol Police still report to work and are expected to protect the same members of Congress who refuse to pay them to do so. Although Democrats have proposed legislation to allow for their funding, the GOP has once again dug in its heels to prevent it.
‘Senate appropriators appear no closer to reaching a resolution. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), whose initial $3.7 billion bill to address the shortfalls and plug other security gaps was panned by the GOP as too expensive, plans to make another counteroffer to Republicans. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, reiterated to POLITICO Wednesday that Republicans would not accept Leahy’s original proposal.’
Breaking: The Jan. 6 Select Committee will hold their first Congressional hearing on July 27.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 14, 2021