House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is defending her decision to reject two Republicans for a select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Speaking on the rejection of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) two picks, Pelosi accused Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) of making statements and taking actions “that I think would impact the integrity of the committee.”
Calling it “deadly serious,” Pelosi explained, “This is about our Constitution. It’s about our country. It’s about an assault on the Capitol that is being mischaracterized for some reason at the expense of finding the truth for the American people.”
She added, “It’s my responsibility as speaker of the House to make sure we get to the truth on this. We will not let their antics stand in the way of that.”
Watch part of Pelosi’s press briefing below:
Pelosi on rejecting Jordan & Banks for Jan 6 committee: "They had made statements & taken actions that I think would impact the integrity of the committee … it's my responsibility [to] make sure we get to the truth on this. We will not let their antics stand in the way of that" pic.twitter.com/U74etUYYs7
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 22, 2021
McCarthy pulled all of his picks following Pelosi’s announcement saying, “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.”
During a news conference on Wednesday, McCarthy announced Congressional Republicans would conduct their own investigation of the attack, as IJR reported.
“We have law enforcement, we have military, we have doctors, we have people from all walks of life,” McCarthy said.
He added, “You want to know the answer? The American people deserve that. They don’t deserve politics. They don’t deserve destroying the institution.”
McCarthy accused Democrats of “playing politics” and said Republicans “want to get all the answers.”
Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), one of McCarthy’s picks, called Pelosi’s move “bullsh*t.”
“Jim Banks and Jim Jordan have every right to serve on any committee Kevin appoints them to,” Armstrong said.