In fact, members of the former 9/11 Commission – several of whom consulted with Pelosi – mention that even partisan division was the reason for their success when they advised Pelosi on this insurgency commission. Their willingness to take dual ownership of the direction of the investigation, without an advantage for either party, helped ensure the commission’s credibility in the eyes of the public. The former commissioners said it should be viewed in the same way as independent and unbiased, rather than an instrument of one of the parties, to be credible with the January 6 riot.
“There is really strong support in the country for us to seek the truth, to find the truth, but also to understand how we need to protect the American people from what may be out there in terms of domestic terrorism and the rest, “Pelosi told reporters. late last week.
Pelosi said the inquiry panel would closely reflect the 9/11 Commission, but from the Democrats’ opening bid, it appears they would prefer a strong other balance of power.
A senior Democratic assistant has warned that the two parties are still exchanging offers and nothing is final. In the Democratic discussion concept, each of the so-called ‘Big Four’ congress leaders could appoint two members to the commission. President Joe Biden would be able to elect three additional members, including the chairman, who would have the summons power.
According to Pelosi’s proposal, the commission will have to issue a report by the end of this year with the panel disbanding 60 days after the report is completed.
The 9/11 Commission was a ten-member body that included five Democrats and five Republicans. The chairman, former governor of New Jersey, Thomas Kean, was appointed by then-President George W. Bush. The Vice President, former Congressman Lee Hamilton, has been appointed by Congress’s Democratic leaders. Both told POLITICO last week that they regarded their mandate as any extreme bias within the ranks of the commission, especially the staff who eventually conducted the investigation.
They, as well as other former 9/11 commissioners, said the summons was a necessary bat that they had deployed only once – but effectively to exploit evidence from other unwilling witnesses. The former 9/11 commissioners also said the commission should not meet artificial deadlines.
“It must first be created in a way that it can succeed and not be built to fail,” said Tim Roemer, one of the 9/11 panel’s Democratic appointees, who also worked with Pelosi and others. House Democrats chatted.
One challenge facing a commission on January 6 is the conflict with ongoing criminal investigations as a result of the riot. Prosecutors have charged more than 200 participants in the January 6 assault, and their cases are in the early stages, which could make access to key witnesses difficult, especially if the commission is expected to deliver a report by the end of the year.
Biden’s nominee as attorney general, Merrick Garland, indicated Monday that he intends to make the Capitol uprising investigation a top priority in his early tenure, a sign that the investigation is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. .