House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced on Thursday that she has selected Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., to serve on a committee to probe the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Cheney will join seven Democrats who were also named to the panel Thursday. The committee will be chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
The Hill noted the House voted to form the committee on Wednesday, despite Republican opposition. However, Cheney voted in favor of forming it.
Last month, House Republicans voted to boot Cheney — an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump — from her key leadership role as House Republican Conference chairwoman.
Trump slammed Cheney, calling her a "bitter, horrible human being" and cheered her ouster.
Cheney, after the vote, said she remains "absolutely committed" to the idea that Republicans "must go forward, based on truth" and that she'll do "everything I can" to ensure that Trump "never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has threatened to strip any Republican member of their committee assignments if they accept an offer from Pelosi to serve on the panel, according to CNN.
Pelosi, in announcing the committee members said: "January 6th was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, with five people killed, 140 members of law enforcement physically harmed and countless more seriously traumatized. It is clear that January 6th was not simply an attack on a building, but an attack on our very democracy: an attack on the peaceful transfer of power. It is imperative that we find the truth of that day and ensure that such an assault on our Capitol and Democracy cannot ever again happen.
"It had been our hope to establish a bipartisan, independent National Commission, but there is no prospect for that commission at this time. Yesterday, the House established the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. Today, I am proud to name Members who will patriotically honor our oath and our responsibility to the American people: to seek the truth."
Others named to the committee were Democrat Reps. Zoe Lofgren (California), Adam Schiff, (California), Pete Aguilar (California), Stephanie Murphy (Florida), Jamie Raskin (Maryland), and Elaine Luria (Virginia).
"As we enter the Fourth of July weekend to observe the birth of our nation, we do so with increased responsibility to honor the vision of our Founders and to defend our American Democracy," Pelosi said.
The select committee will have 13 House members, with five being chosen by Pelosi in consultation with McCarthy, and will have the power to subpoena witnesses and documents, according to NBC News.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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