Capitol Police officer charged in Jan. 6 attack

A Capitol Police officer has been charged with obstructing justice in the investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

According to the indictment against officer Michael Riley...

o Riley initiated contact with a man who had posted pictures of himself inside the Capitol during the attack, informing the man that "everyone who was in the building is going to be charged." He advised the man to "take down the part about being in the building."

o The two exchanged several messages regarding the attack, eventually speaking on the phone after the man questioned whether he had been charged with crimes.

o After the man was charged, Riley messaged him - inviting him to stay at Riley's home the next time he comes to Washington, DC. "If you want to see the capitol building, let's do it legally next time...I know a guy who can get you a tour.. lol," the message included.

o After the man was arrested, he texted Riley that "the fbi was very curious that I had been speaking to you if they haven't already asked you about me they are gonna."

o The following day, Riley deleted all of their conversations.

Riley, a 25-year Capitol Police veteran, had been named Officer of the Month in February 2011 by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Click here to read the indictment against Riley

For more, read the Washington Post article.

House creates committee to study Capitol attack

The House of Representatives has voted to form a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The committee will consist of 13 members - 8 to be appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and 5 who will be appointed in consultation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

It will have the authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, as well as to take depositions.

Pelosi named the following representatives to the committee:

McCarthy has yet to publicly state his plans for the committee.

Congress previously attempted to create an independent commission to investigate the attacks - in which Democrats and Republicans would essentially share control. That attempt passed the House, but is being blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

For more, read the Washington Post article.

Click here for more information about the resolution.

Senate blocks commission to investigate Capitol attack

A bipartisan commission to study the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol has been approved by the House of Representatives.

However, Senate Republicans are filibustering it.

The commission would be made up of 10 members - half named by Democratic Congressional leaders and half by Republicans. It would have the authority to subpoena witnesses and evidence. - though any subpoena would require the support of at least one member of the opposition party.

A final report by the commission would be due by the end of 2021.

Both House and Senate had support from Republicans

The makeup of the commission was the result of a bipartisan agreement that gave Republicans essentially equal control of how it would conduct the investigation. Even to subpoena a witness would take at least minimal support from the Republican side.

The bill passed the House of Representatives 252-175, with the support of 35 Republicans.

A cloture vote in the Senate - which would allow the bill to be debated and voted on by Senators - also received a majority vote. However, the 54 votes were short of the 60 required to end the filibuster.

Next steps

That leaves two avenues for the commission to be approved. One would be if 6 more Republicans were to join another cloture vote to allow the bill to proceed. The other would be for the Democratic majority (50 Senators plus Vice President Kamala Harris) to abolish or limit the Senate filibuster.

And investigations still can take place regardless of the outcome of the commission. Both the House and Senate can conduct their own investigations - also with subpoena power.

For more, read the PBS News Hour article.

Click here for more information about the bill.

Trump supporters invade Capitol as election is certified

While Congress was certifying the election of Joe Biden to become the 46th president, a mob of hundreds of Donald Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the process.

Just before the invasion, thousands of Donald Trump supporters attended a rally in which Trump - along with his family and others - urged them on with their continued false claim that Trump had won the election.


Video montage shown during the subsequent impeachment trial of Trump

Five people died as a direct result  of the invasion....

Two  officers took their own lives in the days following the riot.

Up to 60 officers were injured.

The  insurgents  included members of violent radical groups Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

Congress reconvened 7 hours after the invasion began. At 3:46 a.m. - 15 hours after the invasion began - Vice President Mike Pence declared Joe Biden the Electoral College winner.

Update 2021-Mar-5: Approximately 300 people have been arrested in relation to the invasion.

For more, read the New York Times synopsis.