Biggs named to Oversight and Reform Committee even with Jan. 6 scrutiny
Rep. Andy Biggs has been appointed to the influential Property Committee on Oversight and Reform in spite of suspicion he may well have played a section in the direct up to the Jan. 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol.
Biggs, R-Ariz., joins Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz, who also has appear below fireplace for participating in the “Halt the Steal” effort objecting to President Joe Biden’s election victory, on the most important investigative committee of the Dwelling of Reps.
The Committee on Oversight and Reform has the ability to “examine the subjects inside of the Committee’s legislative jurisdiction as perfectly as ‘any matter’ within just the jurisdiction of the other standing Home Committees,” according to the committee’s internet site.
Its subcommittees involve civil rights and civil liberties surroundings and countrywide security as effectively as a choose subcommittee focused on COVID-19.
Biggs stated he was thankful for the new committee assignment.
“More than the up coming two a long time, Household Republicans should really use all of our electric power to hold the Biden administration accountable to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the American people today,” Biggs mentioned in a composed assertion.
Biggs’ appointment comes after the Marketing campaign for Accountability, a watchdog team, filed a ask for with the Workplace of Congressional Ethics inquiring for an investigation of Biggs and Gosar to identify if they broke any Household policies or criminal regulations stemming from the riot on Capitol Hill.
Catch UP: Ethics, prison probes sought for Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar
“It is ironic that Rep. Biggs is quickly involved with upholding the Constitution and the rule of law given his outsized part in trying to undermine democracy by subverting the results of the 2020 presidential election,” Michelle Kuppersmith, government director of the Marketing campaign for Accountability, mentioned in an email to The Arizona Republic.
The business alleges that via their social media and their words and phrases that each members aided incite the violence that interrupted Gosar’s objection to the certification of Arizona’s election benefits on Jan. 6.
In a video, Ali Alexander, who served organize “Cease the Steal,” said Biggs, Gosar, and Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., aided approach the Jan 6. party as a way to place “greatest pressure” on Congress as lawmakers have been certifying the 2020 Electoral Faculty votes.
Check out: Rep. Andy Biggs’ brothers: ‘Andy spread election fraud lies’
Biggs, who also is chairman of the conservative House Liberty Caucus, was top a tour of the Arizona-Mexico border with other Property Republicans and could not be reached for comment. He maintains he in no way contacted Alexander and was concentrated exclusively on guaranteeing the election was properly carried out.
“All of these allegations are untrue,” Biggs said in a Jan. 22 composed assertion.
“My track record as an genuine gentleman, who thinks in this state and the rule of law, has been deliberately tainted by people who have no regard for the reality,” Biggs explained.
Kuppersmith explained Biggs’ alleged involvement in the riot will never be neglected.
“The White Property will absolutely retain point of view when thinking about any demands designed by Rep. Biggs as the administration moves forward,” she mentioned.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., also is wary of his two colleagues, going so considerably as to generate Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to inquire him to keep off on appointing Gosar to any far more committees.
DIG Deeper: Rep. Grijalva seeks suspension of Rep. Gosar’s committee assignments soon after Jan. 6 Capitol rampage
“The GOP has a conspiracy idea trouble, and I have now called for Republican leaders to suspend other Members of Congress who unfold falsehoods about the final election until eventually an investigat
ion is comprehensive,” Grijalva reported in an e mail to The Republic.
For his element, Gosar welcomed Biggs to the oversight committee.
“I am glad that my colleague from Arizona has joined the Household Committee on Oversight and Reform,” Gosar mentioned in an emailed statement to The Republic. “Rep. Biggs is a hard worker and is excellent for this assignment.”
