Vietnamese American refugee to help investigate Jan. 6 Insurrection

Rep. Stephanie Murphy, tleft, he only member of the House who was a refugee, will be among those
appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, to investigate the Jan. 6 Insurrection.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today named a former Vietnamese refugee to  a bipartisan Select Committee to examine and report upon the facts and causes relating to the terrorist mob attack on the United States Capitol Complex on Jan. 6, this year.

“I am honored to have been appointed to the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol, and I pledge to fulfill this solemn responsibility to the best of my ability," said Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.

“When I was a baby, my family fled an authoritarian country," said the Vietnamese American Congressmember. "We were rescued by the U.S. Navy and given refuge in America. I love this country beyond words. To see the citadel of American democracy assaulted is a reminder that our democracy is not self-sustaining. It needs to be preserved and protected by American patriots of every political stripe.”

Pelosi's action comes afte Senate Republicans blocked a move to vote on an outside commission, leaving Democratic leaders with plans to move forward with a House select committee instead. 

“January 6th was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, with five people killed, 140 members of law enforcement physically harmed and countless more seriously traumatized,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  

“It is clear that January 6th was not simply an attack on a building, but an attack on our very democracy: an attack on the peaceful transfer of power.  It is imperative that we find the truth of that day and ensure that such an assault on our Capitol and Democracy cannot ever again happen.”

“It had been our hope to establish a bipartisan, independent National Commission, but there is no prospect for that Commission at this time,” continued Speaker Pelosi.  “The House established the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol.  I am proud to name Members who will patriotically honor our oath and our responsibility to the American people: to seek the truth.”

Other members of the Committee are:

• Chair Bennie Thompson: Chair of Homeland Security Committee
• Chair Zoe Lofgren: Chair of Committee on House Administration
• Chair Adam Schiff: Chair of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Rep. Pete Aguilar, House Administration and Appropriations Committees
• Rep. Liz Cheney, Armed Services Committee
• Rep. Jamie Raskin, Oversight and Judiciary Committees
• Rep. Elaine Luria, Navy veteran, Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees

The Select Committee on the January 6th Insurrection will investigate and report upon the facts and causes of the terrorist mob attack on the United States Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2021.  It will also be charged with reporting its findings, conclusions and recommendations for preventing future attacks.  

The Committee will be bipartisan, with 13 members appointed by the Speaker, five of whom will be appointed after consultation with the Minority Leader in an attempt to get Rpublican participation. If the GOP refuses to appoint any of its members, the committee will do its duty without their input.