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Rep. Payne, Jr. Supports Investigation of January 6th Capitol Insurrection

May 19, 2021

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for a bill today to conduct a full investigation into the January 6th Insurrection on Capitol Hill. The bill, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act (H.R. 3233), would create a bipartisan Congressional commission to research the facts and circumstances relating to the attack, evaluate what caused it to happen, and offer recommendations on how to prevent another attack in the future.

"What happened on January 6th was a direct attack on American democracy," said Rep. Payne, Jr. Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. "We need to find out what happened, who was responsible, and what actions are necessary to keep it from happening again. I am proud to know that it will be a bipartisan commission, even though Republican leadership wants to make it partisan. The American people deserve to know the truth and hear it from both political parties."

The January 6th attack damaged the U.S. Capitol Building, killed five people, injured dozens of police officers, and forced several members of Congress and staff to move to secure locations. The mob of former President Trump supporters raided the Capitol to try and stop the legal and traditional certification of votes after the valid and error-free 2020 U.S. Presidential election.

The new bill gives the commission the authority to hold hearings, receive evidence, and issue subpoenas to find out exactly why the attack occurred. Also, it requires the commission to hold public hearings and meetings during their investigation, where appropriate. The final version of the commission's report must be made public when it is completed.

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