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Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans ignored the pleas of the families of U.S. Capitol Police Officers Liebengood and Sicknick, who both lost their lives as a result of the January 6 insurrection, and voted to reject legislation that would establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the attack:

“Senate Republicans do not want an independent, comprehensive investigation into the events of January 6 because they do not want to get to the truth of that ugly day. The truth is politically inconvenient for them, and today’s vote to reject the bipartisan commission is a loud and clear signal that they can only be counted on to put their reelection politics above all else.

“What is perhaps most sickening of Senate Republicans’ actions is their rejection of the earnest pleas of the Liebengood and Sicknick families who have courageously channeled their grief into action and spoken out in support of this legislation.

“It is a slap in the face not only to the families who lost loved ones as a result of the violent insurrection, but to all of the law enforcement who defended our lives that day. Despite their talk of ‘backing the blue,’ when it came time to support their words with action, Senate Republicans failed our police.

“I will continue fighting to get the answers that the Liebengoods, Sicknicks, our law enforcement and the American people deserve so we can ensure this never happens again.”

Wexton represents the family of fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood in Congress, and released a letter from the family last week in support of the bipartisan January 6 commission, which can be found here.

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