Nancy Pelosi says she’s proud of the Republican rebels who voted for the Capitol Riot commission

Former President Donald Trump condemned 35 Republicans who voted to set up a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as ‘wayward’ and blasted his party for not sticking together.

Most House Republicans opposed the idea of setting up a 10-member commission.

But 35 moderates, including 10 who supported impeaching Trump, voted with Democrats on Wednesday evening.

‘See, 35 wayward Republicans—they just can’t help themselves,’ said Trump a day later.

 

‘We have much better policy and are much better for the country, but the Democrats stick together, the Republicans don’t.’

Meanwhile, the House narrowly approved spending $1.9 billion to toughen security at the complex, setting up a quick-reaction force and installing retractable fencing as Congress continues to deal with fall-out. 

While Trump criticized the rebel Republicans, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applauded the 35. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was proud of 35 Republican rebels who voted in favor of setting up a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

U.S. Capitol Security Bill, which includes $1.9 billion of spending, passes on a vote of 213-212

During her weekly press briefing, she saluted the ‘courage’ of Republicans who had withstood attacks on democracy to declare last year’s election legitimate.

And she praised the 35 who voted with Democrats in supporting a 10-member commission to investigate the insurrection.

‘I’m very proud of them and it was a recognition that this was a bipartisan project negotiated in good faith,’ she said.

The bill passed the House on a 252-175 vote.

Rebels included Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and the eight other GOP members who voted to impeach Trump. 

But the proposal faces an uncertain future in the Senate where it could need to flip 10 Republicans to pass the necessary 60-vote hurdle.

Pelosi said her aim was a bipartisan commission and she believed that Republicans would be willing to find a compromise.

‘I would like to have trust that the Senate wants to find the truth as well,’ she said.

A sticking point has been that the Republicans believe that the commission’s chairman would have sole power to hire staff.

But Pelosi said that was not the case and Republicans would be able to appoint staff.

‘Of course they can hire staff,’ she said. ‘That’s never even been a question.’  

In the run-up to Wednesday’s vote, a handful of Republicans came to the floor and pleaded with their colleagues to vote for the bill.

Capitol Police Officers and the family of Howard Liebengood, the officer who killed himself three days after the riot, also called on the GOP to approve the legislation. 

‘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 doing it not for us. And not for politics. We are doing it for them,’ Katko said. 

‘We are doing it for them.’ 

Katko’s work had been blown up when McCarthy announced on Tuesday he would not support the legislation – and GOP Whip Steve Scalise told Republican lawmakers not to vote for it. 

Earlier Wednesday, McConnell also said he was against the bill. 

‘After careful consideration, I’ve made the decision to oppose the House Democrats slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study the events of January the 6th,’ McConnell said.