House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering adding more Republicans to the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot after House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled all of his picks, Politico reports.
McCarthy said Republicans would not participate in the investigation after Pelosi refused to seat two of his controversial picks, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, over comments they made seeking to undermine the investigation.
Pelosi on Thursday defended her decision, blaming Jordan’s and Banks’ “antics” following the riot.
“The other two made statements and took actions that just would have been ridiculous to put them on a committee seeking the truth,” Pelosi told reporters.
“I’m not talking about him,” Pelosi added of McCarthy. “Let’s not waste each other’s time.”
Pelosi may add Kinzinger:
Pelosi, who already appointed Republican Rep. Liz Cheney as one of her picks, suggested during the news conference that she may add more Republicans to the committee.
“We’ll see,” she said. “It’s not even bipartisan; it’s nonpartisan. It’s about seeking the truth and that’s what we owe the American people.”
Pelosi later that “everybody” thinks Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, would be a good addition.
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson praised Kinzinger as a “fine representative” whose “reputation speaks for itself” but was noncommital on adding new members.
“We’re prepared to move forward with eight members,” he said.
Cheney said Kinzinger would be a “tremendous addition to the committee.”
GOP adviser?:
Cheney is expected to get her own Republican staff on the committee and submitted a list of names to Pelosi that include former Virginia Rep. Denver Riggleman.
"He'd be an excellent addition to the committee,” Cheney said, adding that Riggleman has vast experience combatting online extremism and has been vocal about the riot.
"Denver is somebody who's got years of experience, especially in all the areas connected to cyber issues," she said. "And I think [he] just would be a tremendous addition to the work of the committee in terms of understanding, recognizing the extent to which social media platforms were used, the communications that went on in the lead up to the 6th."
