Mother of fallen Capitol Police officer wants to meet with GOP senators opposing January 6 commission

Although a bipartisan bill calling for a commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives — where conservative Republican Rep. John Katko played a key role in crafting the proposal — it faces a tough uphill battle in the U.S. Senate. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has come out against the bill, and many other Senate Republicans are expressing their opposition as well. But Gladys Sicknick, the mother of one of the January 6 victims, is hoping they will reconsider.

Her son, Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, was violently attacked by supporters of President Donald Trump during the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol Building. The officer suffered a stroke and later died.

Gladys Sicknick is requesting meetings with GOP senators in the hope of convincing them that a January 6 commission is needed.

Sicknick told Politico, "Not having a January 6 Commission to look into exactly what occurred is a slap in the faces of all the officers who did their jobs that day. I suggest that all congressmen and senators who are against this bill visit my son's grave in Arlington National Cemetery and, while there, think about what their hurtful decisions will do to those officers who will be there for them going forward."

Sicknick added, "Putting politics aside, wouldn't they want to know the truth of what happened on January 6? If not, they do not deserve to have the jobs they were elected to do."

Under the rules of the filibuster, most bills need 60 votes to pass. Although Democrats have a narrow majority in the Senate, they would need at least ten Republicans to join them in order for the bill calling for a January 6 commission to be passed.

"So far, only a few GOP lawmakers — including Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — have signaled support for the proposal," Politico reporter Melanie Zanona notes. "Even then, they want to see changes made. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has warned his members behind closed doors that the release of the commission's findings could drag into the height of the 2022 election cycle, when both the Senate and House majorities are up for grabs."