House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy announced on Wednesday night that he will not cooperate with the January 6th committee, saying it was not 'conducting a legitimate investigation.'
McCarthy said that since Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected his nominees to the panel, it was 'illegitimate' and noted he's made several public statements about the insurrection the panel could examine.
'This committee is not conducting a legitimate investigation as Speaker Pelosi took the unprecedented action of rejecting the Republican members I named to serve on the committee. It is not serving any legislative purpose,' he said in a statement.
Earlier Wednesday the panel, which is investigating the origins of the January 6th MAGA riot on Capitol Hill, asked McCarthy to voluntarily appear before its members to discuss the 'heated' conversation he had with then-President Donald Trump on the day of the insurrection.
McCarthy said he had made enough public statements on that day to satisfy the committee's needs.
'It wants to interview me about public statements that have been shared with the world, and private conversations not remotely related to the violence that unfolded at the Capitol,' he said. 'I have nothing else to add.'
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy announced he will not cooperate with the January 6th committee
Panel chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson has said he would consider a subpoena if McCarthy declined his request
McCarthy, a Republican from California, also slammed the panel for subpoenaing records from those in Donald Trump's orbit and for holding individuals in contempt of Congress.
'It has subpoenaed the call records of private citizens and their financial records from banks while demanding secrecy not supported by law. It has lied about the contents of documents it has received. It has held individuals in contempt of Congress for exercising their Constitutional right to avail themselves of judicial proceedings.'
Eight people are suing the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol for its attempt to subpoena records, including Michael Flynn, the embattled former national security adviser to Trump.
The House of Representatives held two other Trump officials - former chief of staff Mark Meadows and former adviser Steve Bannon - in contempt after their no-shows before the panel.
Trump has encouraged his former aides and allies not to cooperate. McCarthy is seeking the former president's help in winning control of the House in this year's midterm election and becoming the next speaker.
McCarthy said it gave him no 'satisifaction' to turn the committee down.
'As a representative and the leader of the minority party, it is with neither regret nor satisfaction that I have concluded to not participate with this select committee's
