Storming the Capitol: Nancy Pelosi rejects two Republicans for committee

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Nancy Pelosi

Photo: ELIZABETH FRANTZ / REUTERS

The Democratic chairman of the American House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, rejects two Republican nominees for the committee to investigate the attack on the Capitol.

Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation and concern about the statements and actions of these MPs, she must reject Jim Banks and Jim Jordan as members of the panel, Pelosi said.

She had to approve the nomination of the nominees.

Supporters of Trump stormed the seat of the US Congress in Washington on January 6th.

Five people were killed, including a police officer.

After heated arguments over the committee in the US House of Representatives, the Republican minority leader of the Congress Chamber, Kevin McCarthy, had finally nominated five candidates for the committee.

They are all considered supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump.

McCarthy threatened after Pelosi's decision that the Republicans would boycott the committee and accused her of "abuse of power."

Jordan is one of the most ardent Trump supporters.

After his nomination, Banks had declared that the committee should not only investigate the attack on the Capitol, but also "hundreds of violent political riots in the past summer", for example by "left-wing extremists".

Pelosi fears that the appointment of Jordan and Banks could affect the integrity of the investigation.

A full investigation is needed into who organized this attack on the Capitol and who paid for it, she argued.

The committee's first hearing is scheduled for next week.

Members of the police force, the Capitol and police officers of the capital Washington are to be heard.

The committee is to investigate the background to the attack on the Capitol.

At the beginning of the week a US court had convicted one of the rioters for the first time.

It found 38-year-old Paul Hodgkins guilty of obstructing an administrative process.

The sentence is comparatively mild: Hodgkins has to go to jail for eight months.

The prosecutor had asked for 18 months in prison.

The convict had previously confessed to his wrongdoing and showed remorse.

In return, the public prosecutor waived further charges.

as / dpa