McCarthy Withdraws His Jan.6 Committee Nominees After Pelosi Rejects Two

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday withdrew five Jan. 6 investigative committee nominees after Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of his chosen members.

Pelosi rejected Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana from the panel that will conduct investigations on the violent Capitol riot. The two nominees were known for adamantly defending former President Donald Trump.

"With respect for the integrity of the investigation, with an insistence on the truth and with concern about statements made and actions taken by these Members, I must reject the recommendations of Representatives Banks and Jordan to the Select Committee," Pelosi said in a statement. “The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision."

Pelosi did approve of the appointments of Reps. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota and Troy Nehls of Texas.

According to CNN, Banks, Jordan and Nehls all objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Pelosi’s decision to reject two House Republican nominees has generated outrage from the minority leader.

"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," McCarthy said at a news conference on Wednesday announcing the withdrawal of his nominees.

McCarthy was allowed to appoint five of the 13 members of the committee, while Pelosi had the power to veto his picks. She also was allowed to choose eight participants,

The committee will remain bipartisan since Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, an outspoken critic of Trump, was chosen as one of Pelosi’s eight members.