Combative right-wing Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, has been selected by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) to serve on the select committee to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
The panel will be made up of seven members picked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California). Pelosi selected Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming), who has very publically blamed former President Donald Trump for the riot, as one of her picks. In addition to Jordan, McCarthy selected four other Republicans – Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Illinois), Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas).
Jordan has been an outspoken Trump loyalist who has often criticized “the left” for allegedly obsessing over removing the former president from power.
The panel is expected to meet for the first time on July 27. Pelosi has not yet said whether she approves of McCarthy’s selections for the panel. The speaker has the right to veto any of McCarthy’s choices.
Republicans have said the panel is politically motivated. Democrats note the importance of investigating the riots with a 9/11-style committee.
Jordan recently uploaded a cryptic video on Twitter that shows various objections to the official count of the 2020 presidential election.
