McCarthy Says Pelosi ‘Destroyed’ the Jan. 6 Committee’s Credibility by Adding Cheney, Kinzinger

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is blasting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for rejecting two of his picks to serve on the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and appointing two other Republican lawmakers.

In a statement on Sunday, the California Republican said, “Speaker Pelosi’s rejection of the Republican nominees to serve on the committee and self-appointment of members who share her pre-conceived narrative will not yield a serious investigation.”

“The Speaker has structured this select committee to satisfy her political objectives. She had months to work with Republicans on a reasonable and fair approach to get answers on the events and security failures surrounding January 6,” he continued.

Finally, he claimed, “Speaker Pelosi’s departure from this serious-minded approach has destroyed the select committee’s credibility. The U.S. Capitol and the men and women who protect it suffered a massive leadership failure. We must make sure that never happens again, and that is what Republicans will be focused on.”

Earlier on Sunday, Pelosi announced that she had named Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) to the committee, as IJR reported.

“He brings great patriotism to the Committee’s mission: to find the facts and protect our Democracy,” she said in a statement.

Pelosi’s announcement comes after House Republicans withdrew their five picks to be appointed to the committee after she rejected two of them.

Earlier this month, Pelosi appointed eight lawmakers to the committee, including Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was allowed to consult on the remaining five members.

Last week, McCarthy said that he had chosen five Republicans, including Reps. Jim Banks (Ind.), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Rodney Davis (Ill.), Kelly Armstrong (N.D.), and Troy Nehls (Texas).

However, Pelosi later announced that she was rejecting two of McCarthy’s picks for the committee, Jordan and Banks.

“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,” she said in a statement.

In response to the House speaker’s move, McCarthy announced that he would withdraw his suggestion for the remaining three lawmakers. He also said Republicans would conduct their own investigation of the violence of the riot.

Cheney and Kinzinger have both been vocal critics of former President Donald Trump, and both voted to impeach him on the charge of “incitement of insurrection” earlier this year.