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GOP defections over Jan. 6 commission deliver rebuke to McCarthy
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Spazito (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).
Source: Politico
House GOP divisions were on full display Wednesday as dozens of Republicans broke with their party leadership and former President Donald Trump to support a proposed commission investigating the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol.
The measure, which would task a bipartisan 10-person commission with delivering a report on the causes and facts of the insurrection by the end of the year, passed the House by a 252-175 vote with every Democrat and 35 Republicans in support.
It now heads to an uncertain future in the 50-50 Senate, where Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’ll oppose the legislation.
The big bipartisan vote was a major rebuke to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who worked hard to minimize the brewing rebellion in his ranks over the commission. During the vote, McCarthy huddled in the back of the chamber with his staff, watching the vote tally tick upward as Republican after Republican registered their “yes” vote.
The measure, which would task a bipartisan 10-person commission with delivering a report on the causes and facts of the insurrection by the end of the year, passed the House by a 252-175 vote with every Democrat and 35 Republicans in support.
It now heads to an uncertain future in the 50-50 Senate, where Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’ll oppose the legislation.
The big bipartisan vote was a major rebuke to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who worked hard to minimize the brewing rebellion in his ranks over the commission. During the vote, McCarthy huddled in the back of the chamber with his staff, watching the vote tally tick upward as Republican after Republican registered their “yes” vote.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/19/gop-mccarthy-jan-6-commission-489598
15 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
But the one thing that keeps yanking it back is the news of more arrests of the perpetrators of that event by DOJ, even 4 months later. And if any of the trials start happening, particularly for the more "colorful" characters, that will keep the hot coals simmering below the surface, with flare-ups now and then.
For example this is still on the DU front page under LBN - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142746061
And from the OP article -
Attorney for ‘QAnon Shaman’ questions mental abilities of his client, others in Jan. 6 riot
By Brittany Shammas
May 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EDT
The attorney representing Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” has spent months arguing that Donald Trump is responsible for his client storming the Capitol on Jan. 6. Now, he says Chansley and other accused Capitol rioters were especially susceptible to being duped by baseless claims about election fraud. In expletive-laden remarks to Talking Points Memo, lawyer Albert Watkins pointed to their mental abilities, using a pejorative for people with intellectual disabilities.
“These are people with brain damage,” Watkins said. He went on to say that the alleged rioters deserved empathy, arguing they’re not “bad people.” Their actions came, he said, after they were subjected to what he described as “propaganda” not seen since Adolf Hitler.
Chansley, a 33-year-old, self-described shaman and QAnon digital warrior from Phoenix, quickly emerged as one of the most recognizable faces from the attack on the Capitol. Shirtless and tattooed, he wore horns and red-white-and-blue face paint while roaming the center of U.S. democracy. In his hands was a spear draped with an American flag. He has been in jail since his arrest on Jan. 11, despite his attorney’s many attempts to get him out. Watkins called on Trump to pardon Chansley and declared it a “betrayal” when his client did not get clemency. He argued his client was a peaceful protester and was not armed, despite the spear.
U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth rejected those arguments, blasting them as “meritless,” “mistaken” and “so frivolous as to insult the Court’s intelligence.” He ordered that Chansley remain jailed until trial. The alleged rioter has remained in the news, at one point covertly giving a “60 Minutes+” interview from behind bars.
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/19/qanon-shaman-short-bus/
By Brittany Shammas
May 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EDT
The attorney representing Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” has spent months arguing that Donald Trump is responsible for his client storming the Capitol on Jan. 6. Now, he says Chansley and other accused Capitol rioters were especially susceptible to being duped by baseless claims about election fraud. In expletive-laden remarks to Talking Points Memo, lawyer Albert Watkins pointed to their mental abilities, using a pejorative for people with intellectual disabilities.
“These are people with brain damage,” Watkins said. He went on to say that the alleged rioters deserved empathy, arguing they’re not “bad people.” Their actions came, he said, after they were subjected to what he described as “propaganda” not seen since Adolf Hitler.
Chansley, a 33-year-old, self-described shaman and QAnon digital warrior from Phoenix, quickly emerged as one of the most recognizable faces from the attack on the Capitol. Shirtless and tattooed, he wore horns and red-white-and-blue face paint while roaming the center of U.S. democracy. In his hands was a spear draped with an American flag. He has been in jail since his arrest on Jan. 11, despite his attorney’s many attempts to get him out. Watkins called on Trump to pardon Chansley and declared it a “betrayal” when his client did not get clemency. He argued his client was a peaceful protester and was not armed, despite the spear.
U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth rejected those arguments, blasting them as “meritless,” “mistaken” and “so frivolous as to insult the Court’s intelligence.” He ordered that Chansley remain jailed until trial. The alleged rioter has remained in the news, at one point covertly giving a “60 Minutes+” interview from behind bars.
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/19/qanon-shaman-short-bus/
^^^bolding mine for emphasis
As long as you have "15-minutes-of-fame" defendants AND "15-minutes-of-fame" lawyers, this will actually stay in the news cycle. Because. Freakish.
