GOP hands Democrats first filibuster, blocking bill to create Jan. 6 riot commission

Senate Republicans on Friday thwarted an effort to create an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, blocking legislation they believed would ultimately be used as a political weapon against them by Democrats.

Most Republicans refused to back the measure, depriving the Democrats of the 60-vote threshold needed to begin debate on the bill.

It was the first GOP filibuster of major legislation since the Democrats reclaimed the Senate majority in January.

Six Republican senators backed the proposal to cut off debate on the bill for a Jan. 6 commission: Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. All of them were among the seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict President Donald Trump on the impeachment charge that he incited the riot. Additionally, Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, who is retiring after the 2022 elections, voted with the Democrats.