House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi must take all of his GOP nominees for the special committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot or go without.
The California Republican was reacting Wednesday to Pelosi’s rejection of Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana, two of former President Donald Trump’s staunchest congressional allies.
In a hyperbolic statement in which she claimed the riot was the “worst domestic assault on American Democracy since the Civil War,” Pelosi said she would accept McCarthy’s other selections: Reps. Rodney Davis, Kelly Armstrong, and Troy Nehls.
But, she added, “With respect for the integrity of the investigation, with an insistence on the truth and with concern about statements made and actions taken by these Members, I must reject the recommendations of Representatives Banks and Jordan to the Select Committee.
“The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision.”
There was a lot of unprecedented action on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as that’s how McCarthy described Pelosi’s power play.
Pelosi, he said, “has taken the unprecedented step of denying the minority party’s picks for the Select Committee on January 6. This represents an egregious abuse of power and will irreparably damage this institution.”
“Denying the voices of members who have served in the military and law enforcement, as well as leaders of standing committees, has made it undeniable that this panel has lost all legitimacy and credibility and shows the Speaker is more interested in playing politics than seeking the truth,” McCarthy added.
“Unless Speaker Pelosi reverses course and seats all five Republican nominees, Republicans will not be party to their sham process and will instead pursue our own investigation of the facts.”
The 13-member panel already included seven Democrats and GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. All were appointed by Pelosi.
Cheney has not been shy of condemning Trump, and advocating the purging of his backers from the GOP.
Trump on Tuesday called Cheney, who earlier this year voted to impeach him over the Jan. 6 riot, a “loser RINO,” and said he was set to endorse one of her Republican primary challengers.
“Highly respected pollsters tell me she’s toast in Wyoming after siding with Crazy Nancy Pelosi and supporting the Democrat Impeachment Hoax,” Trump added.
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