On Tuesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy officially denied seats on the House Intelligence Committee to two Democratic Congressmen: Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff. This decision reflects the increasingly politicized nature of one of Congress’ most important national security committees.
WATCH McCarthy have a heated exchange with the media.
Speaker McCarthy TAKES A SLEDGEHAMMER to entire crowd of Fake News reporters— They meltdown into literal SCREAMING after he brings out RECEIPTS on Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell ??
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 25, 2023
The two California Democrats had played key roles in the impeachments of former President Donald Trump. In response, McCarthy wrote a letter to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries which he posted on Twitter that night.
In his letter, he stated: “I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more.”
McCarthy has cited a “new standard” from Democrats as the basis of his decision to strip Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff, both California Representatives, of their committee assignments. This comes after the Democrat-led House removed GOP representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona from committees in 2021 due to inflammatory rhetoric, including their support for violence against Democratic members of Congress
In a letter, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy added that “it is my assessment that the misuse of this panel during the 116th and 117th Congresses severely undermined its primary national security and oversight missions – ultimately leaving our nation less safe,” and expressed his desire for the committee to have “genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people.
