Eric Swalwell Accuses McCarthy of ‘Cowardice’ After He Rejects Deal Made For Commission to Investigate Jan. 6

It was reported last week that Republican and Democratic House leaders finally reached an agreement for an independent commission to investigate the events that occurred Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.

The agreement was agreed to by House Rep Benny Thompson (D-MI) and House Rep John Katko (R-NY) and paves the way for the commission to be approved by the full chamber “as soon as next week,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

The only problem with the supposedly bipartisan agreement, is that Katko was one of the 10 Republicans to vote to impeach former President Trump after Jan. 6.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spoke out against the deal today, rejecting it and criticizing the agreement as “shortsighted.”

CNN’s Jim Acosta in a tweet said that McCarthy “opposes current bipartisan deal for creation of January 6 commission.”

U.S. House Rep Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was furious with McCarthy’s opposition and in a quote tweet of Acosta accused McCarthy of “Cowardice, and an utter failure of leadership.”

Cowardice, and an utter failure of leadership. https://t.co/YPrDpNm0YU

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) May 18, 2021

McCarthy himself accused Pelosi of refusing to “negotiate in good faith” in regards to the deal, as he reiterated his objection to the commission’s singular focus on the events of Jan. 6, and insisted the probe should include the Black Lives Matter riots that swept the country last summer.

In a statement, McCarthy said, “Given the political misdirections that have marred this process, given the now duplicative and potentially counterproductive nature of this effort, and given the Speaker’s shortsighted scope that does not examine interrelated forms of political violence in America, I cannot support this legislation.”