Scott J. Applewhite/AP
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski criticized Mitch McConnell's attempt to block the January 6 commission.
- She said it would be "a decision for the short-term political gain at the expense of understanding."
- CNN reported that McConnell asked GOP senators to vote against the commission as a "personal favor."
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for attempting to block the commission on the Capitol riot.
She spoke to reporters on Thursday, criticizing the view by McConnell and other Republicans that the commission could hurt the GOP in the 2022 midterm elections.
She said blocking the commission was "making a decision for the short-term political gain at the expense of understanding and acknowledging what was in front of us on January 6."
She said that the party needed to consider if "everything is just one election cycle after another" or "are we going to acknowledge that as, as a country that is based on these principles of democracy that we hold so dear."
Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images
Murkowski is one of the only GOP senators who supports the commission. Sen. Mitt Romney has said that he would vote for the commission, and Sen. Susan Collins has said that she would offer amendments to the bill.
CNN reported Thursday that McConnell asked other GOP senators to vote against the commission as a "personal favor" to him.
The Senate is expected to vote on Friday.
