So much for a Republican boycott of the congressional investigation into the January 6th riots.
On Wednesday, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled all five of his picks for the committee leading the probe after Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of them: Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana.
“Republicans will not be party to their sham process and will instead pursue our own investigation of the facts,” McCarthy said.
But a Republican, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, is already on the committee and Pelosi is reportedly considering adding another GOP House members who has resisted his party’s pro-Trump hegemony: Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Politico reports:
Kinzinger discussed his desire to join the select panel with other lawmakers before Pelosi chose Cheney earlier this month, according to a person familiar with the conversations. He declined to comment Thursday when asked about his potential addition to the select panel, which is set to hold its first hearing next week with law enforcement responders during the siege of the Capitol by supporters of the former president.
Cheney praised the potential appointment, saying Kinzinger would be a “tremendous addition to the committee. I think ultimately it’s up to the speaker, but I would certainly support it.”
When asked about the possibility at a Thursday press conference, Pelosi responded, “We’ll see.” More from CNN:
Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who’s been appointed chairman of the new committee, said Thursday that adding Kinzinger to the panel has been discussed with the speaker. Thompson said if Pelosi signs off, Kinzinger will be a “welcome addition.”
Politico reports that former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) might also be added to the committee as an outside advisor to Cheney.
“Denver is somebody who’s got years of experience, especially in all the areas connected to cyber issues,” Cheney told Politico. “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.”
When asked about McCarthy’s intention to boycott the investigation, Pelosi responded, “I’m not talking about him. Let’s not waste each other’s time.”
She defended her refusal of Jordan and Banks, saying that they “made statements and took actions that just would have been ridiculous to put them on a committee seeking the truth.”