House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has officially rejected Schiff and Swalwell.
Despite Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) intel committee recommendations for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Speaker McCarthy formally rejected their appointments on Tuesday, saying “I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security.”
“I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more,” McCarthy said.
“As such, in order to maintain a standard worthy of this committee’s responsibilities, I am hereby rejecting the appointments of Representative Adam Schiff and Representative Eric Swalwell to serve on the Intelligence Committee,” McCarthy added.
McCarthy shared his formal response on Twitter:
“I have rejected the appointments of Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell for the House Intelligence Committee. I am committed to returning the @HouseIntel Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people.”
I have rejected the appointments of Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell for the House Intelligence Committee.
I am committed to returning the @HouseIntel Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people. pic.twitter.com/ePxlbanxta
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 25, 2023
Schiff is calling McCarthy’s move “political payback.”
“This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump. If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is. I will always defend our democracy,” Schiff tweeted Tuesday evening.
Kevin McCarthy just kicked me and @RepSwalwell off the Intelligence Committee.
This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump.
If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is.
I will always defend our democracy.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 25, 2023
McCarthy spoke to the press Tuesday evening to defend his actions, reminding the press that they don’t know everything the Intel Committee knows.
Watch the clip above.