Sen. Joe Manchin blasts Republicans for blocking Jan.6 commission

Over the weekend, most of the Senate Republicans voted to block the formation of a commission that will look into the events of January 6. Following the obstruction, West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin ripped into the GOP for voting against the proposal.

Manchin released a video statement criticizing the Senate Republicans who voted to oppose the January 6 commission. The bipartisan commission proposal passed the House with several Republicans voting in favor. In the Senate, the Democratic lawmakers failed to reach the number of votes needed despite six GOP Senators voting in favor of the commission.

“Choosing to put politics and political elections above the health of our democracy is unconscionable. And the betrayal of the oath we each take is something they will have to live with,” said the West Virginia lawmaker. “This was our chance to have a bipartisan commission that would allow for an impartial investigation into the events of that horrific day so that we are better able to prevent another attack on our nation.”

Manchin also mentioned the Capitol Police officers, many of whom were severely injured from the insurrection that occurred as well as the Congressional staff, the press, and the American public in his video statement. One Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, was killed during the insurrection. The West Virginia Democrat apologized on behalf of his Republican colleagues for failing to vote in support of the commission out of “political fear” that kept them from voting with their conscience.

The vote to filibuster the commission was widely criticized, not just by Manchin and other prominent figures. Retired Colonel Alexander Vindman, a key witness during Donald Trump’s impeachment trials, who also drew the ire of the now-former president, criticized the failure of the commission to pass the Senate.

Vindman criticized the GOP lawmakers who voted against the commission on Twitter. The former military official said all the Republicans who voted against the commission should be branded for not wanting to hold Trump accountable for what he had incited. Vindman also called the GOP “extremist” for their refusal to support an investigation into an incident for the sake of national security.