Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer, who represented fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and fallen Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, and represents Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, today issued the following statement on Senate Republicans’ filibuster to block bipartisan legislation to establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol:

“Senate Republicans took political cowardice to a new level today.

“The legislation they blocked is the result of a bipartisan compromise in the House to create a bipartisan investigation modeled on the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Mitch McConnell admitted behind closed doors that his motivation for obstructing this measure was entirely political calculation.

“At a time when radical right-wing House Republicans refer to a violent attack on our democracy – which resulted in deaths and widespread injuries of police officers – as a ‘peaceful’ event akin to a ‘tourist visit,’ it is ludicrous to say we do not need a bipartisan investigation to establish the truth.

“If you have met with Officer Fanone or the other brave officers grievously injured protecting Congress that day, know about Officers Smith and Liebengood, or spoken with the grieving family of Officer Sicknick, it is so clear that the wounds of that day are still fresh. The words and actions of our colleagues who deny these sacrifices are a disgrace to this body, and inflict new trauma on those who ensure our safety.  These politicians do not ‘back the blue,’ and the American people should remember that.”