McCarthy has argued that both Schiff and Swalwell are unfit to serve on the committee, citing Schiff’s work conducting the first impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump and Swalwell’s alleged ties to a Chinese intelligence operative. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing in relation to the allegation against Swalwell.

“This is not anything political” he said. This is not similar to what the Democrats did. Those members will have other committees, but the Intel Committee, the Intel Committee’s responsibility” is national security, he said. “I respect Hakeem Jeffries’s support of his conference and his people. But integrity matters,” he added.

Unlike most committees, whose appointees are determined by party leaders, the speaker has final say over who sits on the Intelligence panel.