Pair of Washington Republicans vote to approve investigation into Capitol riot
May 20, 2021, 7:39 AM | Updated: 10:58 am
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (left) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (right). (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a commission to investigate the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with two Washington state Republicans joining with Democrats to approve its formation.
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In total, 35 Republicans crossed party lines to join their Democratic colleagues in supporting the commission, with the final vote sitting at 252 to 175. That included Washington Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse.
Next, the commission will have to garner approval in the U.S. Senate, and faces a tough road ahead with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voicing his disapproval earlier this week. Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate, McConnell labeled it a “slanted and unbalanced proposal,” signaling that Republican support in the upper chamber may be limited. The bill will need 60 votes in the Senate in order to end debate and move it to a final vote.
Herrera Beutler and Newhouse have taken flack from fellow Republicans in recent months, having both voted to finalize the 2020 election results, as well as to impeach then-President Donald Trump for his role in inciting the Capitol riot.
Herrera Beutler also voted against the eventual ouster of Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her role as Republican conference chair in Congress. Cheney’s removal was the culmination of months of vocal opposition to Trump’s prominence within the party following the events of Jan. 6 at the Capitol.
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Herrera Beutler’s own criticism of Trump after the Capitol riot saw her censured by the Clark County GOP last February. Rep. Newhouse will soon face a pair of Republican challengers — including former gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp — in the August primary in his bid for reelection, both of whom have criticized him for not adequately standing behind the former president.
The third Republican member of Washington’s Congressional delegation, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, voted against the formation of the Jan. 6 commission. McMorris Rodgers had also previously voted against impeaching Trump in January.
