A report by Axios on Thursday said President Joe Biden now opposes creating a Jan. 6 presidential commission to investigate the Capitol riot on that day.
According to Axios, White House officials say Biden plans to continue urging that Congress to set up its own committee.
But those same officials indicate that the president will not appoint his own presidential committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in which Trump supporters entered the Capitol building as lawmakers voted to certify the election for Biden.
EXCLUSIVE: Biden has decided against appointing his own commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection and will instead increase pressure on Congress to establish a committee.https://t.co/sUgjI9x504
— Axios (@axios) June 3, 2021
Biden Opposes A Presidential Commission
After Senate Republicans voted in May to killed a bill to create such a commission, House Democrats proposed establishing a presidential commission.
Only six Republicans supported the congressional bill, but ten votes would have been needed to meet the 60-vote threshold to begin debate.
Biden opposes appointing a presidential commission on Jan. 6 attack. Psaki says, in part: “Congress was attacked on that day, and President Biden firmly agrees with Speaker Pelosi that Congress itself has a unique role and ability to carry out that investigation.”
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) June 3, 2021
Psaki: ‘Congress Was Attacked On That Day’
The Biden administration continues to message their belief that since it was Congress that was attacked on Jan. 6, 2021, it is that body’s role to pursue an investigation.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki drove this point home on Thursday.
According to Axios, Psaki said, “Congress was attacked on that day, and President Biden firmly agrees with Speaker Pelosi that Congress itself has a unique role and ability to carry out that investigation.”
“Because of that, the President doesn’t plan to appoint his own commission,” Psaki said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirms what’s been abundantly clear for weeks — that Biden won’t undercut Pelosi and create a presidential commission into Jan. 6 that would’ve lacked subpoena power.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) June 3, 2021
Psaki: ‘Unprecedented Assault On Our Democracy’
The White House press secretary added, “The events of Jan. 6 were an unprecedented assault on our democracy, and he believes they deserve a full, and independent, investigation to determine what transpired and ensure it can never happen again.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had already voiced her opposition to a presidential commission on the Jan. 6 attack.
Axios noted, “Pelosi had already dismissed a presidential commission to study the Capitol insurrection, telling House Democrats earlier this week that Biden appointing such a panel would be ‘unworkable,’ per AP.”
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