House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she was appointing Republican Liz Cheney to the newly formed committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the nation’s Capitol. Cheney had bravely fought back against Trump’s false claims that he won the election, much to the consternation of her own party.
In retaliation, Cheney was removed from GOP House leadership.
Now, Rep. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has warned that any Republican who accepted an offer by Pelosi to serve on the committee would be stripped of committee assignments.
At a press conference, McCarthy told reporters at his weekly press conference he was ‘shocked’ Cheney had accepted a committee assignment from Pelosi.
“It would seem to me, since I didn’t hear from her, that maybe she’s closer to (Pelosi) than us,” McCarthy said.
“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. That day saw the most sacred space in our Republic overrun by an angry and violent mob attempting to stop the counting of electoral votes and threatening the peaceful transfer of power,” Cheney said in a written statement.
“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.