Dems Blast McCarthy for Ditching Jan. 6 Probe After Pelosi Rejects 'Apologists for Insurrectionists'

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday reacted with disdain and derision after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he would not participate in the select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and would instead lead his own Republican probe of the deadly riot.

"Does anyone know that the hell Kevin McCarthy is talking about?"
--Rep. Jim McGovern

On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected two of the five GOP lawmakers proposed by McCarthy (R-Calif.) to help investigate the events of January 6. Pelosi said that her caucus voiced objections to committee candidates Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) "and the impact their appointments may have on the integrity of the investigation."

All of McCarthy's picks for the committee are supporters of former President Donald Trump. Three of them--Banks, Jordan, and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas)--voted to overturn President Joe Biden's victory.

McCarthy responded with a statement accusing Pelosi of "egregious abuse of power."

"Unless Speaker Pelosi reverses course and seats all five Republican nominees, Republicans will not be party to their sham process and will instead pursue our own investigation of the facts," he said.

Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill then said the speaker would not reverse course.

According to The Hill:

Pelosi said she will accept the other three GOP selections: Reps. Rodney Davis (Ill.), Kelly Armstrong (N.D.), and Troy Nehls (Texas). They would join the eight lawmakers she had previously appointed, including Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the panel's chairman, and GOP Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Congress's most prominent Republican critic of Trump.

Pelosi said she spoke with McCarthy Wednesday morning to inform him of her decision, and she requested that he recommend two alternative Republicans to replace Jordan and Banks. McCarthy has refused.

McCarthy's behavior was met with mockery from several House Democrats. Speaking of the minority leader's withdrawal from the committee's selection process, Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) tweeted: "Good. We shouldn't have apologists for insurrectionists investigating January 6th."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked: "And where does McCarthy plan on doing his 'own investigation' into January 6th if he's blocking Republicans from participating in the official Congressional investigation? Parler?"

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) reacted with characteristic color:

"We could have had an independent, bipartisan, nonpartisan commission," tweeted Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), but McCarthy "didn't want that, so stop whining. The Jims will not be allowed to spoil the truth."