In a recent interview with CNN, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) have accused Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of attempting to keep them off House committees. The Democrats argue that McCarthy is using his power to cling to his position as speaker, and Rep. Swalwell referred to McCarthy's home area in California as "some Bakersfield B.S." The House is expected to finalize committee assignments in the coming weeks, and it remains to be seen whether the Democrats will be able to reclaim their positions on the House Intelligence Committee.
Posts tagged as “The House Intelligence Committee”
Representative Adam Schiff announced his candidacy for the California Senate seat currently held by Senator Dianne Feinstein, joining a crowded Democratic primary race. Feinstein has yet to announce her intentions for the upcoming election, and Schiff is the third prominent Democrat to join the race. Schiff is the current Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and is well-known for his role in the impeachment inquiry against former President Donald Trump. Other potential candidates include California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has blocked two Democrats, Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, from serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in a move seen as political payback for the Democrats' removal of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from committees earlier this year. McCarthy has cited a “new standard” from Democrats for why he would strip Schiff and Swalwell of their committee seats, and the decision has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. The move is seen as a response to the Democrats' decision to remove Greene and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) from committees, and it remains to be seen how the decision will affect the House Intelligence Committee's ability to fulfill its duties.
Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana has publicly opposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy's efforts to remove three Democrats from committees, signaling potential complications for the House GOP's efforts. McCarthy has the power to keep members off the Intelligence panel, but not the Foreign Affairs Committee, which is a standing committee. Spartz's opposition may be enough to sway the outcome of the dispute, which is expected to continue in the coming days.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has nominated California Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell to serve on the House Intelligence Committee, setting up a potential showdown with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who has vowed to block the pair. Jeffries cited Schiff and Swalwell's "decades of distinguished leadership providing oversight" of the intelligence community and their careers as prosecutors before serving in Congress. The move signals a rocky start to the relationship between Jeffries and McCarthy, with the potential conflict between them affecting the committee's work.