Democrats poised for major change with Senate power shift

House Democrats request documents in start of sweeping probe of Capitol attack

Three new Senators arrive this week as Democrats take charge. Four House panels start a broad review of the Capitol attack by Trump supporters. And Democrats file some not-so-subtle legislation about it. This is "Regular Order" for January 17, 2021.

CAPITOL ATTACK PROBE. Four U.S. House committees have asked the FBI and top intelligence agencies for answers on the Capitol attack. In a Saturday letter, Democrats blamed the violence on "President Trump's inciteful rhetoric and his false claims of a stolen election." Democrats also promised 'robust oversight' to look for missed warning signs and any failures in dealing with ‘domestic violent extremism.’

• ARRESTS CONTINUE. The long arm of the law did not take the weekend off. The mother of a man seen in the Senate chamber with zip tie handcuffs was arrested in Tennessee. (Yes, they went to the Capitol together.) More Trump supporters were arrested because of their social media accounts. And a guy known as “Baked Alaska” was arrested thanks to the video on his Capitol livestream.

SENATE SHAKEUP. The Capitol attack has overshadowed this week’s power shift in the Senate. It’s not just that Democrats take charge and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) will become the Majority Leader. All of the committee chairmanships will flip to the Democrats. And it will have a big impact on the agenda of Joe Biden - especially since Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to cast a tie-breaking Senate vote.

SENATE COMMITTEE ROSTER. Maybe the most obvious change comes as Democrats take over the chair of each Senate committee. "All that talent, that's been bottled up for so long, will be unleashed," Schumer said of his Senate flock. Here's the expected roster of Senate committee chairs with Democrats in command:

• Agriculture - Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

• Appropriations - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

• Armed Services - Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

• Banking - Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

• Budget - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

• Commerce - Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

• Energy & Natural Resources - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

• Environment & Public Works - Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)

• Finance - Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

• Foreign Relations - Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

• Health, Education, Labor & Pensions - Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

• Homeland Security - Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)

• Judiciary - Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)

• Rules - Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

• Intelligence - Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

THREE NEW SENATORS. It's not just the two new Senators from Georgia who are expected to be sworn in this week. Alex Padilla is also ready to replace Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), as she shifts over to Vice President. Those new faces will be part of the historic 50-50 split in the Senate. The Muse of History will tell you the last time that happened.

PENCE FAREWELL TOUR. With his time in office almost over, Vice President Mike Pence is taking on the role of a departing President. Thursday he went to a briefing on inaugural security. Friday he called Kamala Harris. Saturday he gave a speech on foreign policy actions of the past four years. He reviewed National Guard troops at the U.S. Capitol. Today, the Vice President goes to Fort Drum in New York.

• TRUMP FINAL DAYS. The contrast could not be more stark. While Pence has been very visible, President Trump has not been seen in public since Tuesday. The President's recent White House schedule only repeats the same odd note sent to reporters for days. "President Trump will work from early in the morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings."

Gabrielle Ake @gabrielle_ake

Scooplet: A Senior Admin official confirms to me that the wording that has appeared on @POTUS's schedule lately: "President Trump will work from early in the morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings" was written by Mr. Trump himself

GOP FIGHTS OVER CHENEY. Upset by her vote to impeach President Trump, some House Republicans want Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) booted out of her leadership spot. But others counsel patience. "Removing Liz from her leadership position would be divisive & a distraction we cannot afford," tweeted Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX). Cheney critics need 40+ GOP lawmakers to to force an internal challenge.

ATTACK ANGER. Democrats are mad about the Capitol attack. And it’s obvious from some of the legislation they are filing in recent days. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) submitted H. Con. Res. 6, which has the very clear goal “to prohibit President Donald John Trump from entering the United States Capitol at any time after the expiration of his term as President."

• NO EXTRA RESEARCH NEEDED. This new measure from Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) is pretty straightforward as well. H. Res. 44. "A resolution directing the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into President Donald J. Trump for his involvement in and incitement of the violent attacks at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021."

• DEMS WANT MO BROOKS OUT. Democrats also filed formal legislation to expel Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) from the Congress. They argue the Alabama Republican incited the crowd with remarks at President Trump’s January 6 rally, just before the Capitol attack. H. Res. 46. “A resolution removing Representative Mo Brooks from the House of Representatives.”

THE CAPITOL ATTACK. Listen to these Washington, D.C. police officers. These were some of the city police who came to the aid of the Capitol. They can see pretty clearly what was happening that day.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla

“If it wasn't my job, I would have done that for free. .. It was absolutely my pleasure to crush a white nationalist insurrection... and we’ll do it as many times as it takes.” Thank you, D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges. 💯 (via @nbcwashington)

THANK YOU, BUT. D.C. police officer Michael Fanone had his own story. He was saved from likely death by some in the crowd. But he had a message for those who attacked the U.S. Capitol: “Thank you, but fuck you for being there.”

Natasha 𓇼 @ndelriego

Officers Michael Fanone and David Hodges speak about being attacked by the domestic terrorists at the Capitol.

THIN BLUE LINE. What I’m struck by most from all the video of the violent attack on the Capitol is pretty simple - the brutality of the attacks on the police. Maybe one side of the political aisle is not as friendly to law enforcement as is often advertised.

Matt Binder @MattBinder

MAGA and the cops are really going at it in this video

DC GREEN ZONE. When you hear the term ‘military checkpoints,’ you probably think of a war-ravaged country like Iraq, or Afghanistan. But people living on Capitol Hill have those checkpoints in their neighborhoods now. Dozens of intersections are blocked. Roads are closed. Thousands of troops are guarding the Capitol from attack by other Americans.

THE MUSE OF HISTORY. The last time the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 split was for about four months in early 2001. Democrats held the edge from January 3 until Inauguration Day with the vote of Vice President Al Gore. Then, Republicans took charge of the Senate with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Dick Cheney. This time, it will be the exact opposite. Republicans will be in charge until January 20, and then Democrats will take over with the vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

House meets Tuesday at 1 pm.

Senate meets Tuesday at 12 noon.

President Trump is in Washington.

President-Elect Biden will be sworn in Wednesday at 12 noon.

Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree

Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

See the archive at http://jamiedupree.substack.com

"Regular Order" is your easy to read, inside look at Capitol Hill, delivered to your email inbox every day. You can subscribe for $8 per month, or $90 for a full year. If you want to show your support for independent journalism covering Capitol Hill, you can contribute $250 for a full year. Click “Subscribe now” for more information.

“Conference reports may be brought up at any time. Any further program will be announced later.”