Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the January 6 Commission
On January 6, 2021, violent insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol with the stated intent to subvert the democratically manifested will of the American people and stop the peaceful transition of power. These unprecedented events caused irreparable harm. Amid the throng of insurrectionists, several individuals lost their lives and hundreds were injured. The slow law enforcement and military response exposed national security risks, fractured citizens’ trust, and, ultimately, weakened our nation.
Yesterday, the U.S. Capitol was the site of a quieter and, perhaps, more lasting assault. Rejecting good faith efforts on the part of Democratic leadership to construct a bipartisan investigative commission, the GOP leadership and 35 senators effectually sided with the insurrectionists. In doing so, they have broken faith with the American people and undermined the rule of law.
Accountability is the most conservative of principles. Adherence to the rule of law is also one of the most basic conservative ideals. Respect for our institutions and norms has been a deeply held conservative tenet. The peaceful transfer of power as prescribed by the Constitution underlies all conservative credibility.
This week’s vote demonstrated an ethical failure of our nation’s conservative movement to address issues of accountability and breaches to the rule of law. We believe sincere conservatism has a necessary role to play in balancing our national debate, but true conservative principles are not currently being defended at the highest levels of GOP leadership.
We alert our fellow citizens to the danger we face as a nation if we allow our norms to continue to erode. We are grateful for those Republicans, led by Senators Romney and Murkowski, who voted for truth and accountability alongside Democrat colleagues, thus resulting in a bipartisan vote. While it did not succeed in creating a commission, yesterday’s vote nonetheless further revealed which of our senators do — and which do not — fear an open examination of the events of January 6. We encourage our fellow Americans to offer robust support to leaders of either party who are willing to courageously go where the truth leads in defense of democratic principles and the rule of law.
