Key takeaways:
- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has blocked two Democratic representatives from serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, citing national security concerns.
- McCarthy reiterated that the decision was not based on political payback but because “integrity matters, and they have failed in that place.”
- McCarthy has also filled out the GOP rosters of newly created select committees charged with investigating the politicization of the government and the origins of the Covid pandemic.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has blocked two Democratic representatives from serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, citing national security concerns.
In a letter to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, McCarthy said that while he appreciated the “loyalty” the Democratic leader showed to his colleagues, he could not put “partisan loyalty ahead of national security.” The two Democrats, Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell of California, were asked to be reappointed to the committee in a letter sent to McCarthy over the weekend.
McCarthy reiterated Tuesday that he will not allow the two representatives to serve on the committee, saying the decision was not based on political payback but because “integrity matters, and they have failed in that place.” He added that Jeffries has 200 other people who can serve on the committee.
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a prestigious panel with access to sensitive, classified information. It is responsible for overseeing the intelligence activities of the United States government and its intelligence agencies.
McCarthy has also filled out the GOP rosters of newly created select committees charged with investigating the politicization of the government and the origins of the Covid pandemic. The committees will be responsible for conducting oversight of the executive branch and its agencies, as well as providing advice and counsel on matters related to national security.
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