Republicans attempt to undermine and distract from first select committee hearing 1/6

by



[ad_1]

Minority parliamentary leader Kevin McCarthy, who has made it clear he will not cooperate with committee work, is now showing he plans to take his filibuster one step further, by scheduling a press conference with his principals lieutenants before the hearing in an attempt to paint their work – as he calls it – a “partisan sham”.

Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican from Texas, told CNN that he and McCarthy’s other original picks for the select committee met on Monday to strategize ahead of their press conference with GOP leaders. Republicans involved in the planning say they want to be especially careful not to be seen as undermining the testimony of law enforcement officials who risked their lives to defend the Capitol that day. Instead, they’re likely to frame their messages around what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has done – or hasn’t done – to protect the police and others on Capitol Hill. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise has signaled that they will likely focus their press conference on security loopholes on the day of the insurgency.

“All of our Jan. 6 selection panel members had serious questions they were going to raise, particularly as to why Pelosi hadn’t prepared Capitol better and why Capitol Police didn’t have all the tools. that she needed, “the Louisiana Republican told CNN.

In the future, the group may attempt to hold its own hearings and call witnesses designed to highlight issues they think the special committee might ignore. Republican Representative Jim Banks of Indiana, who was originally chosen as McCarthy’s choice as a prominent Republican member of the committee, before Pelosi vetoed his selection, had previously said he wanted hear testimony from the head of the Capitol Police Union, who was critical of the security breaches on January 6.

Checking the Facts Representative Jordan's assertion that President Pelosi was responsible for the security of the U.S. Capitol on January 6

Republicans have repeatedly tried to link the lack of adequate security preparation to decisions Pelosi made ahead of January 6.

Pelosi has argued that the select committee she created, with two GOP members on board, will be the group most Americans will trust.

“We have a nice committee, a small committee that is bipartisan, patriotic, solemn and serious,” Pelosi said. “And I hope that will save the day for our country. It was an attack on our US Capitol, our democracy, our Constitution. It forces us to act in such a responsible manner so that the American people have clarity. “

And McCarthy’s attempt to coordinate a post, aimed specifically at blaming Pelosi, could be easily undermined by far-right members of their conference, who have tried to whitewash or downplay the importance of Jan.6. suggested the attack was internal FBI work. and defended the rioter who was shot dead after storming the building.
A group of these members, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, plan to hold a press conference outside the Department of Justice designed to draw attention to those arrested. and charged with crimes related to the Capitol. Insurrection. Arizona Representative Paul Gosar will also be present at this press conference. He defended the rioters and specifically championed the cause of Ashli ​​Babbit who was killed as she attempted to storm the Chamber. Gosar described her death as an “execution” and demanded that the officer who shot her be investigated and charged with her murder.

Greene will also hold a separate press conference, scheduled during the hearing, with Republican Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ralph Norman of South Carolina to make what she calls a “major announcement.”

McCarthy and his colleagues will hold a conference Tuesday morning – during the hearing – where among the topics that should be discussed is an effort to punish Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, the two GOP members who accepted the appointment of Pelosi to the committee.

The conversation takes place at a time when Cheney and Kinzinger cannot be present to defend themselves.

Democrats have made it clear that they will make sure to link the two groups whenever they get the chance.

“It’s sad – but not surprising – that McCarthy has harsher words for the patriotic members of his own conference than for the insurgents who fiercely attacked law enforcement on Capitol Hill and House Republicans holding a bail. of prison on behalf of the insurgents, “said Robyn Patterson, spokesperson for Pelosi.

Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi and chairman of the select committee, said McCarthy had only himself to blame for the hyper-partisanship surrounding efforts to get answers to what happened on the 6th January.

“If Leader McCarthy engages more in meaningful dialogue, I think the speaker would accommodate him more than easily,” said Thompson. “But you can’t throw those temper tantrums and expect people to work with you.”

CNN’s Annie Grayer contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link