Jean-Pierre on McCarthy Blocking Schiff and Swalwell From Intelligence: 'It Should Not Be Politicized' (January 25, 2023)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had just kept Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell of California off the House Intelligence Committee. Asked for the White House’s reaction, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre came to their defense, and to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s. “Representative Schiff, Representative Swalwell, and also Repres- — Representative Omar are — you know, are expertise and bring a lot to the table when it comes to foreign policy and national security,” she said [1].

The video above shows the answer from the Jan. 25, 2023, White House briefing, the day after McCarthy formally rejected the two Californians [2]. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”It Should Not Be Politicized”

The question was short. “Any reaction from you, from the White House about Speaker McCarthy’s decision to keep Representative Schiff and Swalwell off the Intelligence Committee?” [1]

Jean-Pierre’s answer was not much longer. “We’ll say that, you know, when it comes to that committee, it should not be politicized. It should be independent. And — and, again, those congressional members bring a lot of expertise to that committee, and I’ll leave it there,” she said, and called on the next reporter [1].

She did not address McCarthy’s stated reasons for blocking either man.

”Integrity Matters More”

McCarthy had laid out those reasons the day before, in a letter answering House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who had called Schiff and Swalwell “eminently qualified” [2].

“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. “But I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of the national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership to this essential committee. Integrity matters more” [2].

He added that “the misuse of this panel during the 116th and 117th Congresses severely undermined its primary national security and oversight missions – ultimately leaving our nation less safe” [2].

Jeffries argued there was no “precedent or justification” for rejecting them. But unlike most committees, appointments to the Intelligence panel are the speaker’s call, with input from the minority leader, the AP reported [3].

McCarthy rejected comparisons to the Democrats’ 2021 removal of Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar from their committees [4]. “Those members will have other committees, but the Intel Committee is different. The Intel committee’s responsibility is the national security to America,” he said. “Hakeem Jeffries has 200 other people who can serve on that committee” [3].

The Case Against Each Man

On Schiff, McCarthy pointed to his time as chairman during the first impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, saying Schiff used the post to “lie to the American public again and again” [3]. Schiff had been one of the Democrats’ leading voices on the claim that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation “did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government,” Fox News noted [2].

On Swalwell, McCarthy said he “can’t get a security clearance in the private sector. I’m not going to give him a government security clearance” [2]. Swalwell had reported ties to a suspected Chinese spy, Christine Fang, who was part of his fundraising efforts for his 2014 reelection campaign, though she made no donations, according to intelligence officials, Fox reported [2]. Federal investigators briefed Congress about Fang in 2015, and Swalwell says he cut off contact then [3]. HYGO News covered what later came out about Fang in its page on Swalwell’s questions to special counsel John Durham.

The three Democrats called their removals part of a bargain McCarthy made with GOP hardliners to become speaker, “that required political vengeance against the three of us” [3].

”I’m Going to Frame That Transcript”

The briefing had a lighter moment after John Kirby’s long answers on Ukraine. When Jean-Pierre called on a reporter she called James, he said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t have a question.” [1]

“Wait, wait, wait. You don’t have a question, James? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? (Laughter.)” Kirby said. “Can we have it for the record that I called on you and you didn’t have a question?” Jean-Pierre asked. “I’m going to frame that transcript,” Kirby said [1].

“This is simply a tribute to your own loquacity and thoroughness in briefing us today,” the reporter explained [1].

By the Numbers

218-211: the House vote removing Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 2, 2023 [5].
213-209: the House vote censuring Schiff on June 21, 2023 [7].
208-218: the failed Democratic motion to table the Schiff censure [6].
200: other Democrats McCarthy said Jeffries could put on the Intelligence Committee [3].
2014: the Swalwell reelection campaign that Fang helped raise money for [2].
9,036,252 to 6,312,594: Schiff’s margin over Republican Steve Garvey for a full Senate term in 2024 [9].

What Happened Next

Omar was next. On Feb. 2, 2023, the House voted 218-211 along party lines to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, with one Republican voting present [4][5]. The resolution cited her February 2019 comment, which it said suggested that Jewish people and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee were buying political support: “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.” It also cited her 2021 statement listing “the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban” together, and it concluded that her comments “have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives” [8].

“Yes, I might have used words at the time that I didn’t understand were trafficking in antisemitism,” Omar told CNN. “When that was brought to my attention, I apologized.” Jeffries said he would appoint her to the Budget Committee, CBS News reported [4]. Trump has kept attacking Omar, as HYGO News reported in its page on his “real name” remarks.

Schiff was censured. On June 21, 2023, a Democratic motion to table the censure resolution failed, 208-218 [6]. The House then voted 213-209 to censure Schiff “for misleading the American public and for conduct unbecoming of an elected Member of the House of Representatives” and ordered him to “present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure” [7][10].

Schiff moved up anyway. In November 2024, California voters sent Schiff to the U.S. Senate, 9,036,252 votes to 6,312,594 over Garvey for the full term, according to the House Clerk’s official results [9].

More of Jean-Pierre’s answers checked against the record are on HYGO News’ Karine Jean-Pierre record page.