Democratic anger over the mob’s attack on the Capitol and its aftermath permeates almost every aspect of life in the House, quelling hopes for compassion, and even threatening mundane legislative tasks such as appointing a local post office.
Democrats accuse Republicans of nothing less than sabotaging the country’s democracy with false claims that November’s election was ‘stolen’ from former President Trump
Donald Trump Romney: ‘Pretty sure’ Trump would win 2024 GOP nomination if he ran for president Pence talks to senior members of Republican study committee Trump says ‘no doubt’ Tiger Woods will be back after accident MORE
The Democrats were already angry that some Republicans’ refusal to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was putting lives in danger, but Democrats now see the GOP directly risking a legislator’s life with dangerous rhetoric feeding strange conspiracy theories.
“It’s impossible for us not to look at them in a different light,” Rep. And Kildee
Daniel (Dan) Timothy KildeeBiden Promises Action Against Guns Amid Resistance Managers Try to Make GOP Think Twice About Trump’s Acquittal Biden’s Inauguration Marked by a Conflict of Hope and Fear MORE (D-Mich.) Said about 139 Republicans who voted in favor of the election results.
Bad blood hit a new level on Tuesday night when Rep. Sean Casten
Sean CastenLawmaker calls Robinhood Helpline to comment on customer service. On The Money: House panel scares GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets wage advocates | Yellen Says It’s Getting Big, GOP Says House Panel Is Stopping GameStop Frenzy and Trading MORE in Apps (D-Ill.) Took the highly unusual step of forcing a full vote on an uncontroversial bill to name a Mississippi post office because it was written by a Republican who voted to reverse the election.
It was as clear at a hearing at the postal service on Wednesday as an outraged representative. Gerry Connolly
Gerald (Gerry) Edward Connolly House Democrats call on Biden to fill post office vacancies to pave the way for impeaching DeJoy Trump’s attack on the federal government is not over yet LIVE COVERAGE: House votes to impeach Trump after Capitol uprising MORE (D-Va.) Lashed out at a top Trump ally, Rep. Jim Jordan
James (Jim) Daniel Jordan The Memo: Biden Bets Big on Immigration The Memo: Limbaugh’s Divisive Legacy GOP Lawmakers Mourn Rush Limbaugh’s Death MORE (R-Ohio), who had accused the Democrats of assaulting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy
Louis DeJoyHouse Democrats are calling on Biden to fill vacancies at the postal service to pave the way for DeJoy Duckworth to be ousted and urging Biden to oust the entire postal administration. The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By TikTok – Day 1 Goes To Dems As GOP Fumes At Trump Lawyers MORE last year just to hurt Trump’s chances of reelection.
“It was all a puppet show!” Jordan said.
‘I did not vote to undo an election. And I’m not being lectured by people who did, about bias, ”Connolly retorted, pointing his finger at Jordan.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries Pelosi, lawmakers denounce violence against Asian Americans House Democrat says passing GOP aid proposal would be “unconditional surrender.” House Votes To Kick Greene Out Of Commissions Over Embracing Conspiracy Theories MORE (DN.Y.) lashed out at House Minority Leader on Wednesday Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy Trump To Attend Private RNC Donor Retreat Former RNC Chairman Of Republicans Seeking New Trump Party: ‘There Is The Door’ Lawmakers Propose Bill To Create Capitol Riot Commission MORE (R-Calif.) For providing “help and comfort” to the insurgents.
McCarthy, a short while later, would answer in turn, using a rare speech to accuse the Democrats of adopting strategies of “grievances” designed to silence “millions of voters” represented by the minority Republicans. lay.
Freshman Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Calling former President Trump’s Jan. 6 position “our moment of 1776,” forced a vote on Wednesday to end House operations for that day; it failed, but not before members of both parties grumble.
Many Democrats say it is untenable to cooperate with those GOP lawmakers who voted to reverse the election results, even after the deadly attack.
“It is an unlikely situation because these are the people who tried to undermine our government. And they may be no less guilty than the people who attacked the Capitol, ”said Rep. Bill Pascrell
William (Bill) James PascrellDemocrats are urging IRS to extend tax filing season. On The Money: Biden extends mortgage interest deduction, foreclosure ban until June | Democrats Announce Bill to End Tax Breaks for Asset Managers | Democrats unveil bill to end tax breaks for asset managers MORE (DN.J.).
“It’s getting a lot harder to work down the aisle,” repeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Ocasio-Cortez criticizes the opening of a migrant facility for children under Biden Udalls: Criticism from Haaland motivated ‘by something other than her track record’ Ocasio-Cortez focuses on Manchin on Haaland’s confirmation MORE (DN.Y.), who blamed some GOP lawmakers for putting her in danger.
Even the aftermath of the sixth was there [GOP] members who deliberately brought up falsehoods about my location, then turned around and said, ‘I would love it if we ever worked together,’ ”she added. ‘This is very serious. Many members of Congress nearly died. … So the idea that people just want to pretend that it doesn’t affect their ability to work is pretty shocking and absurd to me. “
Republicans, for their part, accuse Democrats of twisting the events of January 6 to portray the entire GOP as complicit in the mob’s actions.
Even the proposed 9/11 style commission to investigate the January 6 domestic terrorist attack has been bogged down by party politics. Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi Five Big Takeaways at Capitol Security Hearings Curator Estimates Damage to Art on Capitol from Crowd Totals K Democrats Want Corporations Help Get LGBT Bills Over the Finish Line MORE (D-Calif.) Disseminated draft legislation that would create an independent, two-party committee where Democrats would receive seven appointments and Republicans four.
Republicans have rejected that proposal, demanding an even distribution between the parties and warranting subpoenas for both majority and minority. Minority leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell McConnell Backs Garland For Attorney General Trump To Attend Private Retreat For RNC Donors The Patriot Party Already Is Out – It’s The Democrats MORE (R-Ky.) Wednesday called Pelosi’s plan “ biased in intent, ” and both he and McCarthy have pointed to comments from 9/11 Commission leaders – Republican Thomas Kean and Democrat Lee Hamilton – calling for an equally divided commission like theirs was.
“It seems like most of this is politically driven,” McCarthy said of Pelosi’s plan, “and it looks like she’s setting up a system that is failing.”
But the chairman of House Homeland Security Bennie Thompson
Bennie Gordon Thompson Hearings Investigate Consequences of Massive SolarWinds Breach DHS Announces New Measures to Boost Nation’s Cybersecurity House Democrats Request DHS Intelligence Bureau Documents Around Jan 6 Attack MORE (D-Miss.) Defended the Pelosi proposal, arguing that the 9/11 panel was formed under a divided government, but that Democrats now control the House, Senate, and White House.
“It was five and five when you split the authorities in the lead,” Thompson told The Hill. For the Jan. 6 committee, “I think Democrats should take the seat and Republicans can take the vice seat and I don’t think that would ultimately destroy a product that would generate that committee.
“For some it is partial, but for others it is the process,” he added. “Our duty requires us to do that, for God forbid, if we don’t, then something else can happen. The next time the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers don’t like what we do, they’ll just tear it up again. “
Casten’s attempt Tuesday underscored the bitterness. The Illinois Democrat derailed GOP Rep. Trent KellyJohn (Trent) Trent Kelly Top Republican Congresswoman Steps Down, Rip GOP Lawmakers Who Objected to Biden’s Victory READ: The Republicans Who Voted To Challenge Election Results House Votes To Truncate Insurrection Act Powers MORE (Miss.) To speed up a bill to rename a post office in its district. Kelly had met with a group of protesters on January 6 and later voted to overturn the election results.
Still, an overwhelming majority of Democrats were against Casten’s game, and many stated it was simply the wrong means of holding lawmakers to account.
“We have choices in terms of how we interact and who we work with, and who we choose to help lead the dual effort,” said Kildee. “And I think this is more likely how this will manifest.”
Rank-and-file Republicans say they just want to put January 6 in the rearview mirror and move on. The events divided their party, with 10 House Republicans voting to impeach Trump and seven GOP senators voting for his conviction. While that pales in comparison to the 43 Republicans who voted for acquittal, it is an all-time high for an impeachment trial.
Continuing will be difficult given the bad blood and daily reminders of what happened.
The entire Capitol complex still looks like a fortress, surrounded by a 2 meter high non-scalable fence and hundreds of National Guard troops. Pelosi installed magnetometers at all entrances to the House room after some Republicans talked about bringing guns to the House floor.
Cristina Marcos contributed.