House to probe Capitol riot - over Republican opposition

Jul 01, 20210

J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press count

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks at a news conference as the House prepares to vote on the creation of a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 30, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - Sharply split along party lines, the House launched a new investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection on Wednesday, approving a special committee to probe the violent attack as police officers who were injured fighting Donald Trump's supporters watched from the gallery above.

The vote to form the panel was 222-190, with all but two Republicans objecting that majority Democrats would be in charge. The action came after Senate Republicans blocked creation of an independent commission that would have been evenly split between the two parties.

Ahead of the vote, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told lawmakers in the chamber, "We will be judged by future generations as to how we value our democracy." She said she preferred that an independent panel lead the inquiry but Congress could wait no longer to begin a deeper look at the insurrection that was the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years.

https://www.startribune.com/house-to-probe-capitol-riot-over-republican-opposition/600073395/