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Clara Hendrickson
By Clara Hendrickson July 7, 2022

John Gibbs falsely claims Peter Meijer voted to create Jan. 6 committee

If Your Time is short

  • Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, voted against creating the congressional committee currently carrying out a probe of the attack. The members of that committee were selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who chose two Republicans. 

  • Meijer previously supported a bipartisan commission blocked by Senate Republicans to investigate the day a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election.

The latest attack from John Gibbs against his GOP primary opponent Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, misrepresents the freshman congressman’s vote on the congressional committee currently investigating the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

In a fundraising email from his campaign, Gibbs claimed that Meijer voted to "create the Adam Schiff-led January 6th Commission."

To back up its claim, Gibbs’ campaign pointed to Meijer’s vote for a bipartisan commission to investigate the Capitol attack that was never created because Senate Republicans blocked the proposal. But Meijer voted against creating the committee that is carrying out the probe and whose members were selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

A spokesperson for Gibbs’ campaign called U.S. Rep. Schiff, D-Calif., "a central voice" on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. But the group’s chair is Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., not Schiff.

The closely watched primary in Michigan between Gibbs and Meijer is one of a handful in which an incumbent Republican faces a Trump-endorsed candidate.

Meijer was among the 10 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection on the day members of Congress convened to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.

Gibbs — who worked in the Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — has made Meijer’s vote to impeach the former president following the Jan. 6 insurrection a key talking point against his GOP opponent.

Meijer was also among a small group of Republicans who voted to establish a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol.

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"Let us be clear: the imperative to have a public, objective, fact-based investigation of the Capitol attack is not a partisan issue, and it should never be treated as such," Meijer said during a speech on the House floor outlining his support for a bipartisan commission.

But after Senate Republicans blocked the proposal, Meijer subsequently voted against creating the Select Committee currently undertaking the congressional probe into the Jan. 6 attack. In a series of tweets explaining his vote, Meijer once more stated his support for an investigation into the insurrection but raised concerns about the format of the proposed committee.

"I believe it is essential we have a thorough, credible Jan. 6 investigation in order to produce an objective report to get at the truth and clear away fictions and lies," Meijer wrote. "I fear the structure of this partisan select committee will not produce that critical outcome."

The bipartisan commission initially proposed and supported by Meijer would have entitled Democratic and Republican legislative leaders to the same number of appointments. But the resolution that created today’s select committee entitled Pelosi to select its chair and appoint 13 members, including five selected following consultation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Pelosi appointed the committee’s two Republican members: Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. But Pelosi rejected two GOP lawmakers nominated by McCarthy, stating they would undermine the committee’s work because of their previous claims about the Jan. 6 attack.

McCarthy pulled his remaining picks from the committee in protest.

Our rating

Gibbs claimed that Meijer voted to "create the Adam Schiff-led January 6th Commission." Meijer voted against establishing the select committee currently investigating the Capitol attack. Prior to that, he did vote for a bipartisan commission. But that commission was never created, and the committee that was established is not led by Schiff, who serves as a member but not its chair.

We rate this claim False. 

Our Sources

AnneMarie Schieber, John Gibbs for Congress, email, June 24, 2022

Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, membership, accessed June 30, 2022

The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Roll Call 17 H. Res. 24, Jan. 13, 2021

Congress.gov, H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors., introduced Jan. 11, 2021

The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Roll Call 154 H.R. 3233, May 19, 2021

Congress.gov, H.R.3233 - National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act, introduced May 14, 2021

USA Today, "Senate Republicans block commission to study Capitol riot of Jan. 6," May 28, 2021

The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Roll Call 197 H. Res. 503, June 30, 2021

Congress.gov, H.Res.503 - Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol., introduced June 28, 2021

Donald Trump statement, Endorsement of John Gibbs, Nov. 15, 2021

U.S. House Rep. Peter Meijer website, "Meijer to Vote in Favor of Bill to Establish January 6 Commission, Speaks on House Floor," May 19, 2021

U.S. House Rep. Peter Miejer YouTube, "Rep. Meijer - January 6th Commission Floor Speech," May 19, 2021

U.S. House Rep. Peter Meijer Twitter, tweet, June 30, 2021

Congress.gov, H.R.3233 - National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act, text, accessed June 30, 2022

Congress.gov, H.Res.503 - Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol., text, accessed June 30, 2022

USA Today, "Pelosi rejects GOP picks Jordan, Banks on Jan. 6 committee; McCarthy threatens to pull out," July 21, 2021

USA Today, "House Speaker Pelosi names GOP Rep. Kinzinger to select committee investigating Jan. 6 riot," July 25, 2021

The Hill, "McCarthy yanks all GOP picks from Jan. 6 committee," July 21, 2021

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John Gibbs falsely claims Peter Meijer voted to create Jan. 6 committee

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