A large number of House Republicans are pressuring Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to take decisive action against Reps. Liz Cheney (WY) and Adam Kinzinger (IL) for accepting an invitation from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to serve on the select committee which will investigate the Capitol insurrection that took place on January 6.

According to CNN, calls for reprimanding Cheney and Kinzinger increased after the Illinois congressman accepted a spot on the select committee Sunday:

“The push to seek punishment rose to a new level on Sunday, after Pelosi announced that Kinzinger had accepted her invitation to join the committee. Initially, most rank-and-file Republicans were content to let Cheney serve without much of a fight, but Kinzinger’s addition has changed the conversation and has put a new level of pressure on McCarthy.”

The penalties being discussed inside the GOP House caucus include a reprimand and removing Cheney and Kinzinger from their committee assignments, but the threat of stripping the two from their committees is hollow because even if McCarthy did so, Pelosi, as Speaker could immediately reinstate them. But some Republicans say that would be fine with them because it would give the appearance that Cheney and Kinzinger have left the party:

“Plenty of people wondering the same things,” another GOP member said. “If they are accepting appointments from Nancy Pelosi rather than the GOP, haven’t they already effectively left? Perhaps they should ask Speaker Pelosi for committee assignments?”

A spokesperson for Kinzinger noted that McCarthy is in a no-win situation, and if he does agree to take action against two House Republicans, it would likely come back to bite him:

“It would speak volumes if he took away their committee assignments for upholding their oath to protecting our democracy.”

Cheney has also signaled that McCarthy should watch his step before deciding to make rash decisions, remarking earlier this month:

“My oath, my duty, all of our oaths, all of our duty are to the Constitution and that will always be my focus, not politics.”

Featured Image Via NBC News