WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump isn’t the only one who continues to face backlash in light of the Capitol Hill riots. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of Bakersfield, is also facing heat from some lawmakers, asking him to resign after he voted to object to the certification of the 2020 election in two states.
Leader McCarthy spoke with President Trump over the phone on Monday, where they discussed the peaceful transition of power to the Biden administration. McCarthy says he does not feel the president is an immediate risk to the country, but also taking to the House floor Wednesday, that he believes President Trump played a role in last week’s violence.
“The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, speaking on the House floor Wednesday, acknowledging that the president is not free of fault following last week’s chaos on Capitol Hill. A number of lawmakers have also called out leader McCarthy for statements he’s made about 2020 election fraud in the past. Like this clip from fox news which aired two days after election day.
“President Trump won this election, so everyone who is listening, do not be quiet,” said by McCarthy on Nov. 5, 2020.
23ABC spoke with McCarthy via Zoom on Wednesday, this was his defense:
“Well you’re talking two days before the election, or two days after the election, Arizona was not called, Georgia was not called, Pennsylvania was not called, a number of states were not called.”
Results were eventually certified in all states, but leader McCarthy voted last week to object to the results in two states, Pennsylvania and Arizona.
“This was the only moment to have debate. If I wanted to change my opinion after the mob, then isn't that just politics," said McCarthy.
After last week’s violence at the capitol, Mccarthy turned his attention this week to his friend and ally, President Trump. The two had a phone conversation Monday morning about creating a smooth transition of power to the incoming Biden administration.
“I’m encouraging him to sit down with President-elect Biden to have a meeting prior,” added McCarthy.
So where does the house minority leader say the Republican party goes from here? McCarthy says he feels encouraged because house Republicans overall did well in their 2020 races, but he says that’s not to discount the fact that his party lost the presidency and the Senate this year.
“I think this is a time for the party to reflect, but the very best of us moving forward, and unite,” added McCarthy.
McCarthy also denounced efforts to impeach the president Wednesday. He maintains that impeaching the president will only serve to further divide the country.
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