House Votes in Favor of Forming Committee to Examine Capitol Riots

Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she was appointing Republican Representative Liz Cheney to the new select committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The House voted 222-190 to formally create the panel. Following that vote, during a news conference, Pelosi said “we are very honored and proud she has agreed to serve on the committee.” The committee will be chaired by Representative Benny Thompson of Mississippi. Cheney’s appointment comes after she was removed from GOP House leadership following her vote to impeach President Trump and her criticism of his lies about the election being stolen from him. In a statement, Cheney said “I’m honored to have been named to serve on the January 6th select committee. Congress is obligated to conduct a full investigation of the most serious attack on our Capitol since 1814.” Under the Houses resolution Pelosi will appoint 8 members to the commission and Representative Kevin McCarthy has five slots ‘in consultation’ with her…meaning she could veto his selections. McCarthy told reporters he was shocked Cheney accepted a committee assignment.