Jim Banks

Banks, Indiana’s 3rd District Representative, and Jordan, of Ohio, were among five House members appointed to the select committee by minority leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday, July 19.

Soon after Pelosi announced her objections Wednesday, July 21, McCarthy then pulled back his appointments, leaving the future of the committee unclear early Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement released Wednesday, Pelosi said she spoke to McCarthy Wednesday and informed him of her objections to Banks and Jordan, citing “the impact their appointments may have on the integrity of the investigation.”

Banks, of Columbia City, has emerged as a voice for much of what is deemed a Trump-based agenda and became chair of the biggest conservative caucus in the House, The Republican Study Committee.

McCarthy had intended Banks to serve as the Republican leader on the committee.

Jim Jordan

Banks said previously he did not want to be appointed to the committee and has sharply criticized Pelosi for what he calls a partisan investigation. After being appointed, he accepted it saying his leadership would be needed on the committee.

As Speaker of the House, Pelosi has the authority to reject the appointments.

Banks issued a statement and attacked Pelosi.

“I’m a sitting member of Congress and served my country in Afghanistan and the Speaker knows how hard I will fight for my country. We said all along that this was a purely partisan exercise by the Democrats and Nancy Pelosi’s rejection of me and Jim Jordan shows once again she is the most partisan figure in America today,” the statement said.

“The American people deserve the truth. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi is afraid of the facts,” Banks said.

“We need a comprehensive investigation as to who organized this attack, who paid for it, how they nearly succeeded in overthrowing a presidential election, why they did it and how we must organize ourselves to prevent anything like it from ever happening again,” Pelosi said.