Not a single Indiana Republican, nor any Republican but two in the House, voted in favor of forming a select committee to deep dive into the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
The mostly party-line vote allows House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to form the 13 member commission. She will be allowed to appoint eight members herself while the remaining five can be appointed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, should he choose to do so.
Indiana Republican Representative Victoria Spartz voted against the commission being formed but told All Indiana Politics that it would likely be unproductive for Republicans not to take part. But, even if Republicans take part, she says it can’t become overly political.
“It’s become politicized,” Spartz said of the Capitol riots investigations. “You know, I actually sent a letter January 8th and asked Speaker Pelosi to really look at what’s happened and why we were so ill-prepared.”
“What kind of bipartisan commission can you have if you don’t have any Republican staff,” Spartz continued. “It’s all staff from one side then.”
McCarthy is expected to nail down his roster of five Republicans to the commission this week. His five selections will contribute to six Republicans being on the commission with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) having been selected by Speaker Pelosi.
Cheney was one of the two Republicans in the House who voted in favor of the commission.
Spartz is hopeful that the commission can actually be of some use and not be another opportunity for some members of Congress to politically grandstand over the riots.
“By just politicizing and talking politics non-stop,” she said. “That’s what a lot of this committee has become and I’m honestly tired from it. You know, we have to move forward. If something needs to be improved, let’s fix it. But, not by talking politics non-stop.”
The select committee has been formed after an independent 9/11 style commission was rejected by congressional Republicans who said that the investigation by law enforcement was enough to figure out how the riots began.