Letter to the Editor: Blocking the January 6 Commission

To the Editor:

May 28, Senators Grassley and Ernst, along with other Senate Republicans, blocked the Senate from bringing up the bill to form a January 6 Commission. Why don’t the Republicans want to expose the facts concerning the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol?

Democracy is in the balance. The U.S. Congress, including Vice President Pence, evacuated the premises or were quickly ushered into safe locations, yet the Republicans pretend like the mob did not storm the Capitol, killing five people, injuring 140 police officers, and causing over $1.5 million in damage.

These were not everyday people touring the Capitol.  The videos of people shattering windows, assaulting police officers, breaking into offices, scaling the walls, spraying bear spray, shouting obscenities, and waving Trump flags have been shown multiple times on television. These were domestic terrorists, trying to stop the democratic process.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is going forward with the “largest criminal investigation in DOJ’s history” (ABC News). Over 465 people have been arrested in almost all 50 states. This investigation will tell us who was involved, but not why.

Senators Grassley and Ernst voted to block the bill creating the Commission.  Evidentially, they do not want to know why this violent and deadly insurrection erupted, how to stop it from happening again, and how to protect the democratic process. What are they hiding?

The Democratic Party works to uphold democracy and wants to know why the January 6 insurrection happened. The Democratic Party works for everyday people.

Ann Fields
Lansing