Kinzinger Appointed to January 6 Commission, Davis Pulled Off
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) to a congressional commission investigating the January 6 insurrection and riot at the U.S. Capitol. Kinzinger’s appointment came following Pelosi’s rejection of two GOP members that led Republican leaders to pull all Republicans, including Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) from the panel.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) to the congressional panel aimed at investigating the January 6 insurrection and riot at the Capitol.
Kinzinger’s appointment came after a tumultuous week for the committee that had yet to begin its work. GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy appointed a group of Republicans to the panel, including Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville). But after Pelosi rejected two of the staunch Trump supporters appointed to the committee, McCarthy pulled all of his appointments, including Davis.
Pelosi had previously appointed one Republican to the panel, and Kinzinger is the second.
He released a statement Sunday:
“For months, we have searched for answers and what process we should use to get them. For months, lies and conspiracy theories have been spread, threatening our self-governance. For months, I have said that the American people deserve transparency and truth on how and why thousands showed up to attack our democracy, and ultimately, what led to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Complex on January 6, 2021.
“Self-governance requires accountability and responsibility. My faith requires the same of me, truth is necessary for order, and that’s what I will do. Let me be clear, I’m a Republican dedicated to conservative values, but I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution—and while this is not the position I expected to be in or sought out, when duty calls, I will always answer.
“This moment requires a serious, clear-eyed, non-partisan approach. We are duty-bound to conduct a full investigation on the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814 and to make sure it can never happen again.
“Today, I was asked by the Speaker to serve on the House Select Committee to Investigate January 6th and I humbly accepted. I will work diligently to ensure we get to the truth and hold those responsible for the attack fully accountable.”
Kinzinger, who has a longtime conservative voting record, has become reviled by Trump-supporting Republicans for turning on the former President for pushing a narrative that the 2020 election was “stolen.” Kinzinger was one of just a handful of Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment after the January 6 riot.
Davis followed the party line last week in a news conference in Washington, criticizing Pelosi.
“There are many issues that we saw in Capitol Police, [Inspector General] reports, and others, that laid out reasons why our officers didn’t have the equipment, they didn’t have the training, and they didn’t have the preparation and the backup to adequately respond to what happened on January 6,” he said. “Why? And what have we done, what has the Speaker done, and, more importantly, what has she asked the Capitol Police board, that is made up of her own appointees, what have they done to put this Capitol Complex in a situation do address another security issue? Those questions would have been asked. Those questions will still be asked.”
Two of the vetoed Republicans, including House “Freedom Caucus” leader Jim Jordan have repeatedly tried to minimalize the severity on the attack at the Capitol on January 6. In a tweet, Davis accused Pelosi of “playing politics” with the commission.
It’s not clear yet if Davis will be reappointed to the commission or if most Republicans will sit it out completely.
