Third District Congressman Jim Banks, a pro-Trump Republican from Columbia City who voted to overturn the 2020 Election results, has been tapped to lead the Republican side of the investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection.
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In May, Senate Republicans blocked legislation to put together an outside commission to investigate the attack on the Capitol. With the outside commission scrapped by Senate Republicans, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formed a select committee, which was then opposed by the majority of Republicans.
My statement on being appointed by @GOPLeader to serve as the Republican ranking member on the Select Committee to investigate Jan. 6: pic.twitter.com/dSJNF56EA9 — Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) July 19, 2021
In a statement issued Monday evening announcing the appointment to the committee by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, Banks accused Pelosi of creating the committee to malign conservatives and “justify the Left’s authoritarian agenda.”
Banks was one of 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election after the attack on the Capitol. The attack claimed five lives. Hundreds of police officers were injured at the hands of a mob, many of whom wielded pro-Trump flags and echoed the former president’s claim that the election was about to be stolen.
Kevin McCarthy has chosen 5 Republicans to serve on the Jan. 6 committee. All five voted against impeaching Trump for inciting the attack, and three —Jim Banks, Jim Jordan and Troy Nehls— voted against certifying the Electoral College votes from AZ and PA. https://t.co/WCceBOforL — Jon Cooper ?? (@joncoopertweets) July 20, 2021
The 13-member panel will have subpoena power, with eight members selected by Pelosi. She can veto any of McCarthy’s selections if they are not made in consultation with her.
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Banks has not answered a question posed by WBOI asking whether he considers Biden to be the legitimately elected president of the United States.
"The American people deserve answers about this assault on our Democracy." Read Chair @RepZoeLofgren 's full statement on the House voting to establish a Select Committee to Investigate The January 6 Attack On The U.S. Capitol ⬇️ https://t.co/s4jHKI13ii — Committee on House Admn. Democrats (@HouseAdm_Dems) June 30, 2021
