McCarthy pulls out GOP nominees from Jan. 6 committee after Pelosi rejection [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA.) has withdrawn five Republican nominees from the special committee panel created by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.), which would probe the January 6 US Capitol riot.
• McCarthy made the decision after Pelosi rejected two of his nominees: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH.) and Jim Banks (IN.).
• Pelosi turned down the two legislators since both were known as ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA.) retracted five Republican nominees that would supposedly serve on the special committee tasked to investigate the infamous January 6 US Capitol attack. His move came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.) rejected GOP representatives Jim Jordan (OH.) and Jim Banks (IN.)

“Republicans will not be party to their sham process and will instead pursue our own investigation of the facts,” McCarthy said in a statement after withdrawing his nominees for the panel.

Pelosi did not approve the panel inclusion of Jordan and Banks for reasons that both legislators are staunch defenders of former President Donald Trump, who is accused of inciting the insurrection that resulted in two fatalities.

“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,” Pelosi previously said in a statement. “The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision.”

The House speaker had established the 13-member panel after House GOPs refused to participate in a bipartisan panel that would probe the deadly siege, where hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Previously, Pelosi appointed Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney (WY.) and approved McCarthy’s other nominees, like GOP representatives Kelly Armstrong (ND.), Rodney Davis (IL.), and Troy Nehls. She also asked the House Minority Leader to pick two new nominees after rejecting Jordan and Banks.

Cheney, the former GOP committee leader who was ousted by her colleagues in the House for criticizing Trump for his baseless claims, told the media that she already agreed with Pelosi’s move and that she would be part of the commission.

“I am absolutely confident that we will have a non-partisan investigation,” she told reporters.

Source: REUTERS