Sen. Kyrsten Sinema skips Jan. 6 US Capitol riot vote

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema skipped Friday’s procedural Senate vote on establishing a bipartisan commission to study the U.S. Capitol riot. 

Senate Republicans, in their first use of the filibuster under President Joe Biden, blocked the legislation from proceeding. 

It’s unclear why Sinema, D-Ariz., missed the vote, which took place Friday morning after Republicans forced an overnight marathon session involving separate legislation intended to bolster the U.S.’s competitiveness against China. 

Sinema wasn’t the only senator who missed the 54 to 35 vote, which fell short of the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster. Ten other senators did not vote on the bill, including one other Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington. Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama was spotted Thursday night on a plane leaving Washington.

Sinema’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to The Arizona Republic’s request for comment. 

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., voted to advance the legislation. 

Sinema’s absence on the floor ahead of the long weekend drew condemnation from progressives who noted her continued calls to maintain the legislative filibuster in the name of bipartisanship even as many Republicans have demonstrated a reluctance to advance Democrats' agenda. 

“Does anyone know why @kyrstensinema skipped the vote on the Jan 6th commission and bailed on her much-hyped push to bring in the magical 10 R votes to break a filibuster,” progressive activist Kai Newkirk wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the week, Sinema joined Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in urging their GOP colleagues to work with Democrats to advance the Jan. 6 legislation. Their plea came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., asked his members to stand against it. 

"We implore our Senate Republican colleagues to work with us to find a path forward on a commission to examine the events of January 6th,” the statement said. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., repeatedly called on senators to pass the legislation, noting it could help explain why so many Americans believe in conspiracies involving the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

He noted Thursday that Republican state senators in Arizona have been searching for bamboo fibers in their ongoing Maricopa County ballot review. “This is how insane this has become,” he said. 

But Republicans were hesitant to form the commission to investigate the origins of the deadly insurrection via a 9/11-style commission. McConnell noted the Justice Department is prosecuting suspects in the attack and legislative committees are convening hearings and crafting recommendations to help prevent another attack. 

McConnell warned his members the commission’s findings could be weaponized by Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and could damage their prospects. 

But Republicans were hesitant to form the commission to investigate the origins of the deadly insurrection via a 9/11-style commission. McConnell noted the Justice Department is prosecuting suspects in the attack and legislative committees are convening hearings and crafting recommendations to help prevent another attack. 

McConnell warned his members the commission’s findings could be weaponized by Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and could damage their prospects. 

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Earlier in the week, Sinema joined Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in urging their GOP colleagues to work with Democrats to advance the Jan. 6 legislation. Their plea came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., asked his members to stand against it. 

"We implore our Senate Republican colleagues to work with us to find a path forward on a commission to examine the events of January 6th,” the statement said. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., repeatedly called on senators to pass the legislation, noting it could help explain why so many Americans believe in conspiracies involving the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

He noted Thursday that Republican state senators in Arizona have been searching for bamboo fibers in their ongoing Maricopa County ballot review. “This is how insane this has become,” he said. 

But Republicans were hesitant to form the commission to investigate the origins of the deadly insurrection via a 9/11-style commission. McConnell noted the Justice Department is prosecuting suspects in the attack and legislative committees are convening hearings and crafting recommendations to help prevent another attack. 

McConnell warned his members the commission’s findings could be weaponized by Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and could damage their prospects. 

But Republicans were hesitant to form the commission to investigate the origins of the deadly insurrection via a 9/11-style commission. McConnell noted the Justice Department is prosecuting suspects in the attack and legislative committees are convening hearings and crafting recommendations to help prevent another attack. 

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Subscribe for free to The Gaggle political podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or wherever you listen to audio content.

Earlier in the week, Sinema joined Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in urging their GOP colleagues to work with Democrats to advance the Jan. 6 legislation. Their plea came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., asked his members to stand against it.