Topline
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has begun his second stint heading up the minority by repeatedly stepping on his own words as he attempts to unify his deeply divided caucus – most recently tempering his condemnations of Trump and his backing of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks during his weekly … [+]
Key Facts
McCarthy told Gray TV host Greta Van Susteren in an interview set to air Sunday that he has “concerns” about Cheney, the chair of the House Republican Conference, because “she never told me ahead of time” she would vote to impeach now-former President Donald Trump.
McCarthy also watered down his prior condemnation of Trump for a Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that left five dead, stating “everybody across this country has some responsibility” after telling reporters he doesn’t believe Trump “provoked” the attack with his remarks at a preceding rally.
Though McCarthy was unanimously re-elected to his post in November, his second term has gotten off to a rocky start, with 10 House Republicans voting to impeach Trump after more than half the caucus voted to overturn the election.
McCarthy, a firm Trump ally who voted with his caucus to overturn the election and against impeachment, shocked many by stating in a speech during the impeachment proceedings that the former president “bears responsibility” for the attack.
But that has not silenced the cacophony of right-wing House Republicans calling to dislodge Cheney: “She betrayed our conference by joining the witch hunt and voting for the impeachment scam,” tweeted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Saturday.
Crucial Quote
“He has maintained since the attacks that we all have a responsibility to lower the political temperature across the spectrum that has been building for years and unite as Americans,” McCarthy’s office told CNN of his comments on the Capitol attack, adding, “This isn’t the first instance of political violence.”
Chief Critic
Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) called on McCarthy to resign for his comments, with McGovern comparing his latest remark about the Capitol attack to “Trump saying ‘fine people on both sides’ at a hate rally.”
Big Number
11. That’s the size of Democrats’ House majority, leaving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi little room for defections. At the same time, bipartisan groups in both chambers are growing in size and potential influence, with the House Problem Solvers Committee adding several Republicans who voted to impeach Trump – meaning McCarthy may have trouble mounting the kind of unified opposition needed to thwart Pelosi’s agenda.
