US House Approves Plan to Form Congressional Hearing Panel on Capitol Breach Investigation

Republican Leadership Opposes Criticism Messages Against Trump

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution to form a hearing panel to investigate the January incident of the Capitol breach. With a Senate vote pending, the Republican Senate leadership opposes this resolution, making its passage in the Senate unlikely. This Republican opposition is interpreted as a result of the party's cautious stance toward former President Donald Trump, who expressed his opposition to the hearing the day before.

According to CNN on the 19th (local time), the House approved the resolution to form the hearing panel investigating the Capitol breach with 252 votes in favor and 175 against. All Democratic members voted in favor, and 35 Republicans also supported it. Following this, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party announced that the Senate would begin discussions promptly, with a vote expected as early as next week.

The formation of this hearing panel was the result of a bipartisan agreement between Democrats and Republicans. The bipartisan congressional group called the "Problem Solvers Caucus," consisting of 29 members from each party totaling 58 members, officially expressed support for the hearing panel the day before. Additionally, the Republican leadership encouraged members to vote freely.

However, with the Republican leadership shifting to oppose the formation of the hearing panel, it is expected to be difficult to pass in the Senate. The day before, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy stated that the investigation scope should be expanded to include not only the Capitol breach but also violent incidents during the racial justice protests following the death of Black man George Floyd last year. Subsequently, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also said on the 19th, "I oppose the formation of the hearing panel," adding that "there is a risk the hearing will be biased toward the Democrats."

This change in the Republican stance is analyzed as a result of the party's awareness of former President Trump's official opposition to the hearing the previous day. Trump requested Republican members to oppose the formation of the hearing panel, describing it as a "trap set by the radical left."

If Republican opposition is formalized in the Senate, the resolution to form the hearing panel will require 60 votes to pass, which is higher than a simple majority. With 50 Democratic senators currently, at least 10 Republicans would need to defect for the hearing panel to be formed.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the hearing panel will consist of 10 members, with five appointed from each of the Democratic and Republican parties. After conducting the investigation, the panel will prepare a report by the end of the year and issue recommendations to prevent future incidents of congressional violence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.