Kinzinger: McCarthy audio shows GOP leaders think Republican voters are ‘dumb’
by Caroline Vakil - 04/22/22 2:39 PM ET
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, said audio of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) bashing former President Trump shows that GOP leaders think their voters are “dumb.”
In the audio, McCarthy tells colleagues he’s “had it” with Trump in the days after the Jan. 6 attack and that the former president was responsible in part for Jan. 6. McCarthy later reversed course and has continued to support the former president as the de facto leader of the GOP.
On Thursday, he said reporting by The New York Times over some of his remarks was false — before the audio of him making the comments was released.
“Wow. McCarthy literally today said this was a lie and just a few hours later the tape with his voice from his mouth proves THAT was a lie. Incredible. @GOPLeader ought to be ashamed. Republicans, your leaders think you are dumb. Let’s be done with them,” Kinzinger tweeted.
The Illinois lawmaker is one of two Republicans on the Jan. 6 panel investigating the attack, and frequently criticizes his leader. Kinzinger is not running for reelection.
On Thursday night, MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” aired audio of McCarthy, obtained by reporters from The New York Times, in which he was considering asking the former president to step down following the violent riot — just hours after the House GOP leader had pushed back against the Times report.
“The only discussion I would have with him is that I think this will pass,” McCarthy can be heard saying in the audio, referring to the likelihood that Congress would impeach former President Trump, “and it would be my recommendation you should resign. I mean, that would be my take, but I don’t think he would take it. But I don’t know.”
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https://thehill.com/news/house/3460142-kinzinger-mccarthy-audio-shows-gop-leaders-think-republican-voters-are-dumb/
