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GOP Leader McCarthy Tells Jan 6 Committee He Will Not Cooperate

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Kevin McCarthy (Republican House Minority leader, CA) follows in the steps of many of his GOP counterparts. McCarthy, the House Minority Leader (R-CA), informed Wednesday’s House Select Committee that he was not cooperating in the investigation into the Jan. 6, riot at Capitol.

McCarthy voiced what has become a similar belief about the committee by many Republicans: “As a representative and the leader of the minority party, it is with neither regret nor satisfaction that I have concluded to not participate with this select committee’s abuse of power that stains this institution today and will harm it going forward.”

He also called the committee “illegitimate.”

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Meeting requested by the Committee

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-MS, was the chair of the Committee and requested that McCarthy come forward to speak to it voluntarily. Thompson requested that McCarthy contact Mark Meadows, the former White House Chief Of Staff. 

Thompson wrote:

“We also must learn about how the President’s plans for January 6th came together, and all the other ways he attempted to alter the results of the election. For example, in advance of January 6th, you reportedly explained to Mark Meadows and the former President that objections to the certification of the electoral votes on January 6th ‘was doomed to fail.’” 

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Credibility Issue in Committee

Kevin McCarthy joins a growing number of Republicans telling the Jan.6 committee to hike. Rep. Jim Jordan (R.OH), announced on Sunday that he wouldn’t be cooperating.

Jordan responded to the request by blaming the committee.

“This request is far outside the bounds of any legitimate inquiry, violates core Constitutional principles, and would serve to further erode legislative norms. Your attempt to pry into the deliberative process informing a Member of about legislative matters before the House is an outrageous abuse.”

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) has also declined to appear before the committee and has called it “illegitimate.”  

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‘Bipartisan’ Committee Doomed From The Start

It became clear early on that this committee would not be ‘bipartisan.’ When it was formed back in July 2021, McCarthy had selected five GOP members to sit on the committee, including Jordan and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN). 

Pelosi rejected Jordan and Banks for the committee. At the time, the reasons House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave were that their appointments “may impact the integrity of the investigation.”

McCarthy ultimately pulled all five GOP House members he had selected for the committee, leaving only two ‘Never Trump’ Republicans who both voted to impeach him, Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). 

Thompson claims that McCarthy is in possession of information about the Jan. 6 events. But, the Committee Chair Thompson maintains that McCarthy has information pertaining to Jan. 6.