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- President Biden is in favor of a Congressional commission investigating the January 6 Capitol siege.
- White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said he “supports the desire to move forward with it.”
- This comes on the heels of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for a “9/11-type” commission.
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden supports a commission investigating the January 6 Capitol siege.
Psaki’s comments come on the heels of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for a “9/11-type” commission, which would involve a lengthy and exhaustive investigation looking into the origin of the insurrection, security failures, and subsequently holding hearings to ask witnesses and other key figures about the riots.
“It’s of course Congress’s decision to form this commission, but it’s certainly one the president would support,” Psaki said.
“He supports the desire to move forward with it,” she said later in the briefing.
—The Recount (@therecount) February 16, 2021
Following former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment acquittal, Psaki added that the Biden administration would leave any criminal prosecution to the Department of Justice.
—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 16, 2021
Senators from both parties have already invited high-ranking security officials who resigned in the wake of the attacks to come and testify before a pair of committees.
—Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) February 16, 2021
Even before the siege happened, Biden was facing pressure over prosecuting Trump upon leaving office. Biden remained above the fray during the impeachment proceedings, saying he was not tuning in to the daily developments and instead focusing on the US's pandemic response and economic recovery.
More than 150 Congressional commissions have been established since 1989. Congress can create one by statute, but once it's created with appointees named to run it, commissions largely operate independent of the members.