House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Blocks Two Democrats from Serving on House Intelligence Committee in Retaliatory Move

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has blocked two Democrats from serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in a move seen as political payback for the Democrats’ removal of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from committees earlier this year.

In a public letter to Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who had named the pair to the intelligence committee, McCarthy said that “in order to maintain a standard worthy of this committee’s responsibilities,” he would reject the appointment of the two Democrats.

The two Democrats in question are Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both of California. McCarthy has cited a “new standard” from Democrats for why he would strip Schiff and Swalwell of their committee seats.

“I appreciate the loyalty you have to your Democrat colleagues, and I acknowledge your efforts to have two Members of Congress reinstated to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,” McCarthy wrote in a letter to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that he posted on Twitter Tuesday night. “But 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’s decision to deny Schiff and Swalwell seats on the House Intelligence Committee has been met with criticism from Democrats, who have accused him of using the move as a form of political retribution.

The move is seen as a response to the Democrats’ decision to remove Greene and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) from committees earlier this year. McCarthy’s decision to deny Schiff and Swalwell seats on the House Intelligence Committee has been seen as a way to even the score.

The decision has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some arguing that McCarthy’s move is a violation of the House’s rules and a threat to national security. It remains to be seen how the decision will affect the House Intelligence Committee’s ability to fulfill its duties.