Even some Republicans are baffled Mitch McConnell made sinking the Jan. 6 commission 'a personal favor'

Senate Republicans are expected to enjoy their first successful filibuster of the Biden administration on Friday, sinking an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection already approved in the House with the support of 35 Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) worked hard over the past two days to get 10 Republican votes, proposing changes to satisfy the stated concerns of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), but it appears McConnell has the votes.
McConnell started personally pressuring his GOP colleagues to oppose the commission over the past 24 hours, CNN reported Thursday, citing two Republicans. One of the Republican said McConnell made the request as "a personal favor" to him. "No one can understand why Mitch is going to this extreme of asking for a 'personal favor' to kill the commission," the Republican said.
Publicly, McConnell and his allies argue that the nonpartisan commission is unnecessary, given the congressional committees looking into the violent assault on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump as Congress was certifying the victory of President Biden. But McConnell and his leadership team privately believe "the case they've made to their members has taken hold: That the commission would be used for political gain by Democrats and would undercut GOP efforts to take back the majority in both the House and the Senate," CNN reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Senate moderates are sad, furious, or both. "Is that really what this is about, that everything is just one election cycle after another?" Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) asked Thursday. "I don't want to know" what happened Jan. 6, she said. "But I need to know. And I think it's important for the country that there be an independent evaluation."
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) was more blunt. "Jesus, it's a nonpartisan investigation of what happened," he said. "And if it's because they're afraid of Trump then they need to get out of office. It's bulls--t. You make tough decisions in this office or you shouldn't be here."
"It would be so much better if we had an independent outside commission," Collins said. "The most likely outcome, sadly, is probably the Democratic leaders will appoint a select committee. We'll have a partisan investigation. It won't have credibility with people like me, but the press will cover it because that's what's going on."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Political cartoons for October 17
Cartoons Friday's editorial cartoons include Tomahawk missile talk, the price of red meat, and the bestest boy reports from the Pentagon press room
-
The ‘swag gap’: are you better than your partner?
In The Spotlight The viral terminology sheds light on power dynamics in modern relationships
-
Climate change is getting under our skin
Under the radar Skin conditions are worsening because of warming temperatures
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents