Thread by @dsamuelsohn

NEW: Several prominent members of Congress & government reform groups say a 9/11 Commission-style bipartisan probe of the Trump admin's failings - aka a "truth commission" - is essential to overcoming them. by @davelevinthal @leonardkl & @KaylaEpstein ($) ow.ly/WC4a50CowNZ

This Trump truth commission could probe the White House's COVID-19 response, the government separating immigrant children from their parents, and the blurring of lines among Trump's governmental, political, and business interests, among other matters.

With the backing of Congress and the president, the commission could compel witness testimony, produce a public report, and offer recommendations for improving national governance.

Supporters envision the commission as an independent, bipartisan body in the mold of the 9/11-related National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and more recently, the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist-minded West Virginia Democrat, says the formation of a Trump truth commission is "a good idea."

"There has to be something to restore the confidence and faith in people that what they are hearing is factual, is truthful," he said.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib told @Politicsinsider that "we cannot simply let these things go once he's out of the White House. We must set a precedent for future administrations and hopefully deter future executive actions that will further exact irreparable harm on the most vulnerable."

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Nebraska Democrat who served on the 9/11 Commission: "It has to be bipartisan right from the beginning, and it could contribute to breaking down this polarization we have." He added re. Congress: "I hope they would be supportive of something like this."

Now for the BUTs. Biden has not publicly addressed the notion of a Trump truth commission. He may, however, lack motivation to endlessly pummel Trump.

On 11/ 7, Biden foreshadowed what many Dems believe will be a concerted effort to move beyond Trump. He asked Americans to "put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation … it's time for America to unite and to heal."

On Tuesday, NBC News reported that Biden told close advisors that he doesn't want his own presidency consumed by investigations into Trump and the Trump administration.

Biden's reticence is reminiscent of Barack Obama's own decision in '09 to not push for a proposed truth commission on the Bush admin's counterterrorism policies, including green-lighting practices such as "water boarding" that many human rights activists consider torture.

"We need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards," Obama told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos at the time. "My instinct is for us to focus on, 'How do we make sure, moving forward, we are doing the right thing?'"

Several Democratic senators told Insider they're either reserving judgment on whether to create a Trump truth commission — or will defer to Biden.

Cardin: "I think we are going to take our cue from...Biden. At this point, I think he is looking toward the future & I think he's going to be singularly focused on dealing w/ the current needs including COVID-19, putting a Cabinet together, moving our nation forward."

Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, who lost his 2020 race to serve a full term and now is seen as a possible attorney general in a Biden administration, said he's unfamiliar with the idea of a Trump truth commission, and therefore, couldn't answer questions about it.

"Right now, we just need to get Donald Trump to accept the results of this election and open up the transition. That's first on everyone's mind," Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said.

"Right now, today, I'm focused on ensuring that we have an appropriate, timely, effective transition to the president-elect and vice president-elect," echoed Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close Biden ally viewed as a potential Cabinet member.

Forming any high-profile, federal-level commission requires ingredients scarce today: common cause, cross-partisanship, goodwill, trust. During the current Hill session, Ds & Rs alike have floated ideas for various bipartisan commissions, some involving Trump, others not.

Sen. Tim Kaine on a COVID commission: "How come other nations figured it out and protected their own citizenry so much better than the United States?" he told Insider. "So I do think there needs to be a significant, 9/11-style commission to dig into this."

That's a pretty good tease of what all you'll find in the story. Subscribe to @businessinsider for the full report. It's a buck for a month or here's a link to get a 20% discount for a whole year: businessinsider.com/subscription/p…