Pelosi rejects Trump allies from Jan. 6 panel, casting doubt on its impartiality

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has blocked high-profile Republican Reps. Jim Jordan and Jim Banks from a special committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, drawing outrage from critics who say her move confirmed the probe is a partisan “charade.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Pelosi’s Wednesday surprise an “egregious abuse of power” and threatened to yank the three other Republicans from the panel in response. “Pelosi has broken this institution,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said at a hastily arranged press conference, adding that she “admitted to me” there was no other instance in which a House speaker blocked minority-party picks from a select committee.