Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has formally handed down the rejections for a pair of big-wig Democrats in their efforts to continue serving on the House Intelligence Committee.
This past Tuesday, McCarthy issued a response missive addressed to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who throughout this past weekend spoke up to recommend both reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) for spots on a panel that historically has open access to the most highly sensitive secrets of the nation.
I have rejected the appointments of Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell for the House Intelligence Committee.
I am committed to returning the @HouseIntel Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people. pic.twitter.com/ePxlbanxta
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 25, 2023
“I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more,” stated McCarthy in a response.
“As such, in order to maintain a standard worthy of this committee’s responsibilities, I am hereby rejecting the appointments of Representative Adam Schiff and Representative Eric Swalwell to serve on the Intelligence Committee,” continued McCarthy.
The letter was made public quickly after a private meeting held between Jeffries and McCarthy. He explained to the gathered media that both Swalwell and Schiff would be able to work on many other committees but not this one.
.@SpeakerMcCarthy to reporter: Let me be very clear & respectful to you. You ask me a question when I answer it it's the answer to your question. You don't get to determine whether I answer a question or not, okay? In all respect…what happens in the Intel Cmte you don't know. pic.twitter.com/WD57QB7m1v
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 25, 2023
As the Speaker of the House, McCarthy sports the unilateral power to bar members from participating on the House Intelligence Committee. Even prior to securing his role, McCarthy promised to kick both Swalwell and Schiff from the slots they have occupied for quite a few years. McCarthy has also spoken up about possibly taking Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) out of the slot she holds on the Foreign Affairs Committee, but such an action would require a vote on the House floor to push through.
Despite all the recent changes, not all Republicans seem to be on the same page concerning this initiative to pull Democrats off their committee assignments. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), is an example of this after she chose to vote “present” for quite a few of the 15 ballots cast in the vote for Speaker this month, put forth her own statement claiming that she did not stand in support of these events that she has labeled a “charade.”
The House Intelligence Committee has long been seen as an almost apolitical panel until recently when it became the battleground for partisan sniping back during the presidency of former President Donald Trump due to Investigations about the 2016 election, Trump’s alleged ties to both Ukraine and Russia. McCarthy stated that he wishes to redirect the focus away from angry politics.
“It is my assessment that the misuses of this panel during the 116th and 117th Congresses undermined its primary national security and oversight missions — ultimately leaving our nation less safe,” stated McCarthy in his letter which was sent out Tuesday. “Therefore, as we enter a new Congress, I am committed to returning the Intelligence Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people.”
