POLITICS + GOVERNMENT
Utah’s GOP congressmen split on commission to investigate Capitol attack
May 20, 2021, 7:52 AM
FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah’s four Republican congressmen are split on legislation to create a commission to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol in January.
The House passed the measure 252-175, with every Democrat voting in favor of the legislation.
Commission would investigate the U.S. Capitol attack
Representatives John Curtis and Blake Moore voted in favor of the bill creating a commission investigating the Capitol attack, while Representatives Chris Stewart and Burgess Owens voted against it.
Despite endorsing the legislation, Curtis points out that it’s far from perfect. Specifically, he fears the potential for the Capitol commission to turn partisan.
“Since the horrible attack on our Capitol, I have supported a bipartisan investigation into what led to the event, why our security wasn’t stronger, and why responses were delayed — and I remain hopeful that this commission can bring forth the facts and information to help our country heal and finally move forward,” he said.
Moore says he has supported a bipartisan commission going back to January and he hasn’t changed his position.
“While I am comfortable with the legislation as it stands, I welcome input from the Senate as we move forward,” he said.
Voting against the bill
While voting in opposition of the current bill, Stewart admits he would support an independent commission conducting a “genuine” inquiry into the attack on Capitol Hill.
“This is not what the House passed today,” he added. “Unsurprisingly, this largely partisan commission will not yield a bipartisan accounting of the Capitol riot.”
Owens added that the current iteration of a commission is unsatisfactory to him.
“Unfortunately, Americans will not find a bipartisan resolution in Speaker Pelosi’s inherently partisan commission,” he said.
The legislation now moves to the Senate where at least 10 Republicans will have to join Democrats in order to pass the bill.
At this time, it’s still unclear what stance Senator Mitt Romney will have on the measure.
“We should understand what mistakes were made and how we could prevent them from happening again,” he told reporters earlier this week.
