Nancy Pelosi was put in charge of creating a 13 member House Select Committee, tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. The House Select Committee has 8 seats for Democrats and 5 for Republicans. Democrat Bennie Thompson claims the panel will be “guided solely by the facts. There’s no place for politics or partisanship in this investigation, our only charge is to follow the facts where they lead us,” Thompson said. How is it possible to stick to “facts” when Pelosi has filled the House Select Committee with people who openly dislike Trump? Would a juror be allowed on a jury if they openly disliked the accused? No, no one in their right mind would put that person on the jury. What if they didn’t stick to fact due to personal vendetta? That is the fear Republicans rightfully have as the investigation begins. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans have alluded to the House Select Committee’s investigation being a tool for Democrats to go after Republicans. Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Republican Conference, called Pelosi a “lame duck speaker” who “doesn’t want the American people to learn the truth or know the facts.”
Trump Allies Rejected from House Select Committee
Pelosi has sparked anger in Republicans, by refusing to approve Trump allies Jim Jordan and Jim Banks, selected by House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, on the House Select Committee. “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 said in a statement. “The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision.” Banks and Jordan voted to challenge President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory on the day of the attack on the Capitol. Banks would have been the ranking Republican on the House Select committee. He said Republicans have contended “all along that this was a purely partisan exercise by the Democrats, and Nancy Pelosi’s rejection of me and Jim Jordan shows once again she is the most partisan figure in America today.” Jordan said Pelosi’s actions show the committee is “a partisan political charade.” ”They just want to continue to attack the former president. They want to play their political game.” Jordan said when talking about the Capitol Police, “When you spend a year talking about defunding police… It’s kind of hard to actually have police here on Jan. 6. Why don’t they want to answer the fundamental question, which is why wasn’t there a better security posture on that day?” Kevin McCarthy threatened to pull all five Republicans he selected out of the House Select Committee if Pelosi did not approve Banks and Jordan. “Unless Pelosi reverses course and seats all five Republicans, we will not participate,” McCarthy said at a news conference. “Pelosi will only take people onto the committee that will ask the questions she wants asked. That becomes a failed committee and a failed report, A sham that no one can believe,” McCarthy said. “We will run our own investigation.” Does this mean we will see action in the next few weeks towards Republicans independently investigating the events of January 6? “Clearly they’re not searching for the truth, they’re searching for a narrative that Speaker Pelosi has already written,” Steve Scalise, the second-ranking GOP lawmaker in the House, said.
Anti-Trump Republicans Join House Select Committee
Pelosi asked Republican Adam Kinzinger to join the House Select Committee. “He brings great patriotism to the committee’s mission to find the facts and protect our democracy,” Pelosi said in a statement announcing. Kinzinger is the second Republican Pelosi chose to join the House Select Committee after Liz Cheney. Cheney has been open about her criticisms of Trump and says she agrees with the decision to exclude Jordan and Banks. She says she plans to stay on the House Select Committee. Cheney also criticized McCarthy saying the violent uprising at the Capitol deserved a thorough investigation. “At every opportunity, the minority leader has attempted to prevent the American people from understanding what happened, to block this investigation,” Cheney said. McCarthy has threatened Republican members who participate in the House Select Committee with stripping them of their other committee assignments. Republicans have criticized Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, calling them “Pelosi Republicans who no longer speak for the GOP.” The House Select Committee plans to move forward with the investigation despite the enormous amounts of criticism. “This committee is completely partisan from top to bottom,” said Troy Nehls, a former sheriff who was among McCarthy’s initial picks for the select committee.
The House Select Committee will meet today (7/27/21) and hear testimony, Titled “The Law Enforcement Experience On January 6th.” While expressing gratitude for the four police officers who are testifying before the committee, Thompson called the men “courageous.” He played a video showing rioters overrunning police officers, busting windows and invading the U.S. Capitol. Police officers were heard calling for help. “It’s an honor to have four of these heroes sitting before us today,” Thompson said after the video finished playing. He then said the riot “loomed over our democracy like a dark cloud.” Today the House Select Committee will call on the four police witnesses, two are U.S. Capitol Police officers, Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell; the other two officers, Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges, are DC Metropolitan Police. All four have previously given interviews about their experience. Members of the select committee say the officers’ stories, though already documented, are necessary. The investigation will continue over the next few weeks. Will they do as they say and stick to the facts, or will Nancy Pelosi’s narrative be the story the people are given again.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
