McCarthy proposes 5 Republicans to serve on Jan. 6 panel

WASHINGTON — House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has picked five Republicans to sit on the new select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, signaling Republicans will participate in the investigation they have staunchly opposed.

Mr. McCarthy has selected Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, who recently visited former President Donald Trump on trips to the U.S.-Mexico border and Mr. Trump’s New Jersey golf club, to be the top Republican on the panel, according to a Republican familiar with the decision and an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ms. Pelosi must approve the names before they are final, per committee rules.

Mr. McCarthy has also tapped Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong and Texas Rep. Troy Nehls to serve on the panel, according to the two people, who shared the names on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement.

The five Republicans selected by Mr. McCarthy — all men — have strongly supported Mr. Trump, whose supporters laid siege to the Capitol building on Jan. 6 and interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory. Mr. Banks, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Nehls all voted to overturn Mr. Biden’s win that day, even after the rioting. Mr. Davis and Mr. Armstrong voted to certify Mr. Biden’s win.

Mr. McCarthy’s picks come after all but two Republicans opposed the creation of the 13-person select committee in a House vote last month, with most in the GOP arguing the majorityDemocratic panel would conduct a partisan probe. House Democrats originally attempted to create an evenly split, independent commission to investigate the insurrection, but that effort fell short when it was blocked by Senate Republicans.

House Republicans have largely remained loyal to Mr. Trump despite the violent insurrection of his supporters that sent many of them running for their lives. Mr. Banks made clear in a statement Monday evening he would take a combative approach to his leadership on the panel, sharply criticizing the Democrats who had set it up.

“Make no mistake, Nancy Pelosi created this committee solely to malign conservatives and to justify the Left’s authoritarian agenda,” Mr. Banks said.

Mr. Jordan, one of Mr. Trump’s staunchest defenders through his two impeachments and the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said after the House vote to form the committee he believed the panel is “impeachment three” against the former president. Mr. Trump was impeached by the House twice and acquitted by the Senate both times.

It is unclear if Ms. Pelosi will approve the members. The aide to Ms. Pelosi said her office had received the names from Mr. McCarthy’s office.

The Democratic chair of the select committee, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, said Monday evening he hadn’t seen the names but referred the matter to Ms. Pelosi. “It’s up to her,” he said.

Ms. Pelosi named eight members of the committee earlier this month — seven Democrats and Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, who has strongly criticized Mr. Trump and has been the most outspoken member of her caucus against the insurrection. Ms. Cheney was demoted from GOP leadership in May over her comments.