Insurrection Panel

Posted on: May 19, 2021 at 18:04:23 CT

Thirty-five Republicans defied House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and top GOP leaders and voted with Democrats on a bill that would form a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot.   

The final vote tally Wednesday evening was 252-175, which was announced on the floor by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.   

'I beg you to pass this bill,' said Rep. John Katko, the New York Republican who negotiated with Democrats to get the bill finished. 'My friends on both sides of the aisle. I welcome honest, vigorous and civil debate. At the end of the day I strongly believe this is a fair and necessary legislation.' 

He received applause on the House floor after naming the police officers who died on January 6 and in the immediate aftermath, and other officers who've publicly recounted what they experienced.  

'I want these officers and their families to know that we are not doing this for us. And not for politics,' Katko said.   

Katko's work had been blown up when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday he would not support the legislation - and GOP Whip Steve Scalise told Republican lawmakers not to vote for it.  Earlier Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also said he was against the bill.