House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is criticizing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for accepting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) appointment to a select committee to investigate the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, McCarthy was asked about Cheney’s appointment. He responded, “I was shocked that she would accept something from Speaker Pelosi.”
“It would seem to me that, since I didn’t hear from her, maybe she’s closer to [Pelosi] than us, I don’t know,” he continued.
McCarthy noted that no Democrats have asked him about being named to a committee assignment and added, “It’d be shocking to me to have a Republican to go to a Speaker Pelosi, of all people, to accept a committee assignment.”
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Rep. Kevin McCarthy on Rep. Liz Cheney: "It'd be shocking to me to have a Republican to go to a Speaker Pelosi, of all people, to accept a committee assignment." pic.twitter.com/82PbxN5slZ
— The Hill (@thehill) July 1, 2021
McCarthy clarified that he was not making a threat directed at Cheney.
On Thursday, Pelosi announced eight members who would serve on a select committee to investigate the riot at the Capitol, including Cheney.
As Axios reports, “The remaining five members will be picked in consultation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), though he has not yet indicated whether other Republicans intend to participate.”
Punchbowl News reported on Thursday morning that McCarthy warned Republicans that if they accepted an appointment from Pelosi “they better get ready to get all their committee assignments from her.”
NEW in @PunchbowlNews this AM:
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 1, 2021
@GOPLeader told a group of House Republicans Wednesday that if they accept @SpeakerPelosi’s nomination to the Jan. 6 select committee, they can expect to get all their committee assignments from her.
Subscribe: https://t.co/dg451HnwW3 pic.twitter.com/pfAyXWxnsI
Cheney, who was the No. 3 Republican in the House until she was ousted in May, said in a statement about her appointment, “I’m honored to have been named to serve on the January 6th select committee. Congress is obligated to conduct a full investigation of the most serious attack on our Capitol since 1814.”
“What happened on January 6th can never happen again. Those who are responsible for the attack need to be held accountable and this select committee will fulfill that responsibility in a professional, expeditious, and non-partisan manner,” she added.