Democratic Leader Picks Schiff And Swalwell For Intel Panel In Defiance Of McCarthy

Democrats dare to be Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), to keep his promise to eliminate two House Intelligence Committee Members.

Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Leader, is officially recommended “eminently qualified” With a Saturday letter, Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell continue to serve on the panel. McCarthy is the recipient of the missive. vowed retribution He accused Democrats of creating a “new standard” After GOP members were removed from their committee assignments during the last session,

“It is my understanding that you intend to break with the longstanding House tradition of deference to the minority party Intelligence Committee recommendations and deny seats to Ranking Member Schiff and Representative Swalwell,” Jeffries stated in the letter published by Punchbowl News. “The denial of seats to duly elected Members of the House Democratic Caucus runs counter to the serious and sober mission of the Intelligence Committee.”

McCarthy rose to the speakership while making promises to bump Schiff and Swalwell from their Intelligence Committee perches — a move he has the power to make unilaterally. McCarthy also spoke out about the possibility of bouncing Rep. Ilhanomar (D-MN), from the Foreign Affairs Committee. However, that would require a House floor vote. McCarthy in November accused Schiff of lying before the American public. “time and again” and said Swalwell would be unable to get a security clearance in the public sector, alluding to Swalwell’s intimate ties to an alleged Chinese spy years ago.

Long regarded to be apolitical, the House Intelligence Committee became ground zero for partisan sniping during former President Donald Trump’s presidency with investigations into the 2016 election and Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. Schiff, who became the chairman in 2019, claimed there was an “invisible hand”. “ample” evidence Russia collusion

In reacting to McCarthy’s threat to remove him from the panel, Schiff told CNN In November “McCarthy’s problem is not with what I have said about Russia” but rather McCarthy’s bid to earn enough votes to become speaker. “So, he will misrepresent my record,” Schiff also added. Swalwell argued McCarthy’s actions appeared to be “political vengeance” defended himself in the Chinese spy scandal by pointing to FBI officials telling the media He was cooperative in any investigation and was not suspected to be wrongdoing.

Jeffries argued that Democrats didn’t set a precedent during their last session as Congressmen, particularly with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar (R–AZ) losing their committee assignments due to a series of inflammatory comments and a controversial social media video.

“In the 117th Congress, two Members were removed from their committee assignments after a bipartisan vote of the House found them unfit to serve on standing committees for directly inciting violence against their colleagues,” Jeffries wrote. “This action was taken by both Democrats and Republicans given the seriousness of the conduct involved, particularly in the aftermath of a violent insurrection and attack on the Capitol.”

The House GOP Steering Committee met last week elected to give Greene and Gosar fresh committee assignments, including on House Oversight Committee.

Jeffries also raised the issue “serial fraudster” Rep. George Santos (R-NY) To support his argument. Republicans chose to assign the freshman lawmaker, who admitted to lying about certain aspects of his personal life, committee assignments, despite Santos being subject to multiple investigations and calls for his resignation.

“The apparent double standard risks undermining the spirit of bipartisan cooperation that is so desperately needed in Congress,” Jeffries said.