Bill honoring Capitol police political, Colorado rep says

Audio By Carbonatix

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert was one of 21 members of Congress to vote “no” this week on legislation to honor U.S. Capitol and Washington, D.C. police officers for defending the Capitol during and after the Jan. 6 insurrection, arguing that the Democrat-introduced bill was politically motivated.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Thursday that Boebert, an outspoken advocate of law enforcement, objected to the bill because it was amended to include a later incident unrelated to the Capitol attack. The bill, introduced by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed the House on Tuesday by a 406-21 vote.

”Using the death of an officer in April to try and score cheap political points is shameful," Boebert, a first-term Republican who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, said in a statement.

On April 2, Capitol Police Officer William Evans was killed when a man drove his vehicle into Evans and other officers at a barricade. The man was killed by police.

Boebert did vote for an earlier version of the bill honoring officers for their response when the Capitol building was overrun by hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump who sought to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.