Just Security: “In a bipartisan vote last week, the House passed legislation to create an independent national commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. A 9/11-style commission is the best option for uncovering the truth about the attacks and its multiple causes, and for recommending ways to protect us in the future. But opposition from Republican leadership in the House and Senate, as well as former President Donald Trump, paints a bleak picture for passage in the Senate according to many observers.”

“Every effort should be made to overcome the opposition to a commission. But we should also consider alternatives given that the commission may not happen and, even if it does, the current plan to sunset the commission by the end of 2021 would render it effectively powerless to compel evidence. What’s more, laying out what might happen if a commission fails could help convince doubters that a commission is preferable: For all the concerns expressed by Republicans in the Senate, they may prefer a commission they can influence over a select committee they cannot. Norm Ornstein and Andy Wright have each suggested a few alternatives, among them a congressional select committee, a Department of Justice special prosecutor (or similar special entity), or a presidentially-created commission. Another option would be to let individual committees in Congress conduct separate investigations. All of these options have pluses and minuses but a House select committee would be the best.”