Following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s rejection of two of McCarthy’s choices for the House committee investigating the January 6 insurgency, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is withdrawing his five Republican members.

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, an ardent critic of former President Donald Trump who was one of Pelosi’s eight nominees to serve on the committee, will be the only Republican on the panel. Nonetheless, the unwillingness of the House Republican leader to join will undoubtedly add to the already high-profile committee’s polarization.

“Unless Speaker Pelosi reverses course and seats all five Republican nominees, Republicans will not be party to their sham process and will instead pursue our own investigation of the facts,” McCarthy said.

Pelosi stated earlier Wednesday that she would veto the appointment of two Republicans to the House select committee, Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana, who had opposed to the November election’s certification. Pelosi stated in a statement that she would accept three of McCarthy’s five Republicans earlier this week.

“With respect for the integrity of the investigation, with an insistence on the truth and with concern about statements made and actions taken by these Members, I must reject the recommendations of Representatives Banks and Jordan to the Select Committee,” Pelosi said. “The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision.”

Reps. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, and Troy Nehls of Texas have been appointed, according to Pelosi. Banks, Jordan, and Nehls all objected to the 2020 presidential election being certified.

Jordan was appointed to the House Intelligence Committee in 2019 before of the committee’s public impeachment hearings as a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and an attack dog in Congress. Banks is the head of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative group.

Jordan had expressed concerns since his nomination that the committee would be excessively focused on Trump, and had even hinted at targeting Pelosi as the investigation progressed.

“There’s one fundamental question that I hope Democrats will actually answer and address and that is why wasn’t there a proper security presence that day? And frankly, only the speaker can answer that question, so let’s see if the Democrats bring that up,” Jordan said Tuesday.

Pelosi told reporters earlier this week that whether or not someone voted to certify the election had no bearing on whether or not she approved them for the committee.

“Let me be clear, how people voted on affirming the election of Joe Biden is not a criterion for service. That doesn’t matter,” Pelosi said. But she wouldn’t say what factors she considers while making a decision.

Pelosi stated in her announcement that she had “complaints” to Banks and Jordan’s nominations, although she did not define what those objections were.

Pelosi has the power to designate eight members to the panel, while McCarthy has five seats “in consultation” with Pelosi, meaning the speaker has the power to veto McCarthy’s picks.