GOP’s Burr, who voted to convict Trump, opposes Jan. 6 commission

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said on Thursday that he opposes the Jan. 6 commission, becoming the first GOP senator who voted to convict former President Trump to come out against it.

Burr, in a statement, pointed to the Justice Department investigation and a joint probe by the Senate Rules and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees.

“These investigations are being led by the committees with jurisdiction, and I believe, as I always have, this is the appropriate course. I don’t believe establishing a new commission is necessary or wise,” Burr said.

Burr, who is not running for reelection, is the first of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict former President Trump of inciting an insurrection to say they would formally oppose it.

The other six are all over the board.

Sens. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) are undecided. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has declined to weigh in.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) are pushing for changes to the proposal, including clarity on who gets to hire the staff. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has indicated that he’s inclined to support a commission.

But Burr’s opposition underscores how unlikely it is that Democrats will be able to get the 10 GOP votes they need for the bill to overcome a filibuster. 

No GOP senator has come on board in support of the bill yet, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came out against it on Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is vowing to give the bill a vote. He hasn’t given a timeline for that vote but hinted on Thursday it would be “very soon.”