White House Takes Practical Approach to Efforts to Investigate Attack on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON – President Biden on Wednesday announced a series of sanctions aimed at targeting the “leaders who led the coup” in Myanmar earlier this month, but he was much less clear on what kind of accountability he wants see for those involved in the past month. insurgency at the US Capitol.

Biden avoided weighing in on the impeachment of former President Donald Trump, who was accused of inciting the attack with a speech he gave in which he urged his supporters to “fight” as Biden’s electoral victory was certified. Many pro-Trump protesters who attended the rally marched straight to the Capitol, where they demolished barricades, stormed into the building, and ransacked offices.

In the weeks following the Jan.6 Capitol attack, Representative Jamaal Bowman, DN.Y., and other lawmakers supported efforts to create a congressional inquiry or commission to obtain detailed information on the attack and the response of the police.

When asked at a press briefing on Wednesday whether Biden supports the idea of ​​a committee in Congress, White House press secretary Jen Psaki referred to lawmakers.

“We certainly leave it up to members of Congress to determine if there is a congressional investigation,” Psaki said.

The violence on Capitol Hill was linked to the deaths of five people, including US Capitol policeman Brian Sicknick, who tried to hold back the crowd. Aspects of the Capitol Police’s preparation for the planned protests that day and their response to the attacks have been questioned by Bowman and others.

The Capitol Police chief resigned after the attack, two policemen were suspended and at least 10 others are under investigation for behavior during the attack, including an incident in which one took a selfie with rioters. Despite this, Capitol Police have not held a briefing to address reporters or the public since the attack.

Psaki declined to say whether Biden thinks Capitol Police should address the attack publicly. Instead, she pointed to the FBI’s investigation into the violence.

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“We, of course, here in the federal government, there is an ongoing investigation, as you know, from the Department of Justice,” she said, “and I will defer to them for any report. or update from them.

The White House briefing took place minutes before Biden’s announcement about the Myanmar coup. Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously acknowledged that the United States’ ability to defend democracy abroad had “taken a hit” with the January 6 attack.

Psaki pointed out that Biden denounced what happened on Capitol Hill last month as “horrific” and “an attack on our democracy.”

“He made these statements because that is how he felt, and it is also important to make it understood to the public and to the world,” she said. “But as to what action will be taken from here, we leave that to the Senate.”

Many observers have said the attack on Capitol Hill amounted to a coup, as it was an effort to overthrow Biden’s election. Bowman’s proposal to investigate the attack has even been called the COUP Act. While Psaki used the term “coup” to describe the situation in Myanmar, she was hesitant to say whether she thought it should be applied to the attack on the Capitol.

“I’m not going to give new definitions,” she said, adding, “I appreciate your creativity, however.”

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