“To be making a decision for the short-term political gain at the expense of understanding and acknowledging what was in front of us on Jan. 6, I think we need to look at that critically. Is that really what this is about, one election cycle after another?” Murkowski said. She added: “Or are we going to acknowledge that as a country that is based on these principles of democracy that we hold so dear. And one of those is that we have free and fair elections... I kind of want that to endure beyond just one election cycle.” Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who is credited with leading a mob of rioters away from the Senate doors on Jan. 6, happened to be standing a few feet behind Murkowski as she spoke passionately about the need for an outside investigation.