In a move that will surely make House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s panties wad tighter, the Democrats have invited Republican Wyoming Congresswoman to give one of the two opening addresses during the first January 6th commission public hearing on Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

McCarthy pulled the five Republicans he appointed to the commission after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rejected the placements of Jim Jordan (OH) and Jim Banks (IN) to the investigation.  Both Jordan and Banks had stated publicly that they would work to obstruct and obfuscate the commission’s work in efforts to protect Donald Trump.

Tuesday’s hearings will include testimony from four police officers who were on site during the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol, an effort by Trump supporters to undermine the Electoral College votes and prevent Congress from certifying the presidential election, which Joe Biden won. 

Commission chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi will make the other opening speech.  Democratic leaders considered making his address the only opening comments, but later decided to ask Cheney to make an opening statement to demonstrate the bipartisan composition of the body and to show that some Republicans do not stand in lock-step with the GOP’s leadership kowtowing to Trump.

The current composition of the committee is seven Democrats and two Republicans (Cheney and Ohio Congressman Adam Kinzinger).  Adam Schiff (D-CA) said in an interview on the Stephanie Miller Show Monday morning that some other Republicans could join the committee before it convenes Tuesday.