This Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that she was selecting Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as a member of the select committee that the House voted in favor of forming to investigate the January Capitol riot. Cheney was one of just ten House Republicans (among over 200) who voted in favor of impeaching Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection after that riot, and in the time since, she has been a prominent critic of Trump’s continued lying about the integrity of last year’s election. Originally, Trump’s demonstrably false claim that the election had been rigged for Biden inspired the violence.
Upon the news of her selection for the committee, Cheney released a public statement touting the importance of its efforts. She thereby dismantled arguments from the House Republicans who voted against it and indicated her readiness for a serious examination of the circumstances surrounding the violence — no doubt including Trump’s incitement. Cheney commented as follows:
‘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. What happened on January 6th can never happen again. 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. Our oath to the Constitution, our commitment to the rule of law, and the preservation of the peaceful transfer of power must always be above partisan politics.’
Check out her statement in full by clicking on the post below:
I'm honored to serve on the January 6th select committee. Our oath to the Constitution must be above partisan politics. pic.twitter.com/LpPoWhBHPx
— Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) July 1, 2021
According to the terms of the committee, Pelosi has eight spots to fill, while House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has five. It’s not clear who McCarthy may nominate, although Pelosi has the power to overrule any selections and keep them off the committee. Democrats tried to enact a more bipartisan option for investigating the riot, but Senate Republicans blocked it, leaving Democrats to use the powers available to them. The committee, like other Congressional panels, will have abilities like the power to issue subpoenas.
