GOP Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger in play for Speaker Pelosi appointment to the Jan. 6 panel

WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the Illinois Republican who is one of former President Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics, is being considered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for the panel probing the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by a pro-Trump mob.

Pelosi has openings on the 13-member committee because House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., pulled the five Republicans he recommended for the panel — including Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., — after Pelosi used her veto power to nix two of his picks, both outspoken election deniers, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind.

At her Thursday news conference, Pelosi said “We’ll see,” when asked about appointing more Republicans to the panel. The chair of the committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he would welcome Kinzinger to the committee. I’m told Kinzinger is in play for the appointment.

Kinzinger has signaled he would be open to considering joining the committee.

Pelosi already added to the panel another leading Trump critic, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who was ousted from her GOP House leadership post when she challenged Trump’s false claims the election was rigged and his victory was stolen.

Cheney and Kinzinger are the only two House members who are willing to publicly call out Trump’s lies, baseless conspiracy theories and election and Jan. 6 denial. Kinzinger has been leading a crusade to take back the GOP party from Trump’s control. Kinzinger and Cheney also voted to impeach Trump over his role in inciting the Jan. 6 attack.