Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, has found a moment in the spotlight after a fiery speech assailing Republican refusal to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Congress is deciding whether to open a commission to investigate the insurrection, but it faces steep opposition in the House after organizing by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Ryan’s speech came during Wednesday’s House session. He assailed Republicans’ unwillingness to support the formation of the commission, noting the extensive and fruitless investigations they made into Hillary Clinton’s role in the Benghazi attacks while she was secretary of state.

“Benghazi! You guys chased the former secretary of state all over the country, spent millions of dollars, we have people scaling the Capitol, hitting the Capitol police with lead pipes across the head, and we can’t get bipartisanship?” he said.

He also brought up law enforcement, an uncomfortable angle for conservatives. Despite an anonymous letter ostensibly from Capitol police officers in favor of the commission, Republicans have been forced to abandon their typical role as the bastion for law enforcement to cover for the actions of their supporters.

“Cops! This is a slap in the face to every rank-and-file cop in the United States,” Ryan said. “We need two political parties in this country that are both living in reality And you ain’t one of them.”

His comments were quickly shared across social media, with liberal users praising him for frankness and passion.

Some commenters suggested Ryan’s skills as a public speaker warranted a more prominent position in the Senate.

The proposal to form a commission, known formally as H.R. 3233, passed the House with 252 votes. Only 35 Republicans broke with their party to approve the measure.

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