Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) on Wednesday unloaded on supporters of former President Donald Trump for threatening US Capitol police officers who testified before the House Selected Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.
Kinzinger was responding to a homophobic, racist and threatening voicemail that a Donald Trump supporter left for Capitol police officer Michael Fanone.
In the voicemail, the unidentified Trump supporter spews disgusting profanities and lies for a full minute.
“I wish they would have killed all of you scumbags,” the caller says.
Kinzinger fired back, saying: “Michael Fanone considers himself a Republican, but he stood here and he defended the Constitution, he defended this institution, and to have people call him and call him the names they did, tell him [they] wish he’s dead, it’s unfortunately par for the course for some people, but I think it’s important for it to be out there for people to see the kind of vitriol that exists simply for somebody telling the truth and defending freedom,” Kinzinger told TMZ on Wednesday.
The Illinois Republican also responded to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy labeling him and Republican Rep. Liz Cheney as “Pelosi Republicans” for serving on the select committee.
“All I’ve said is we need to get to the truth, we need answers, and that’s what we’re going to get, and sometimes standing up, doing the right thing, it can have its cost,” Kinzinger said. “But all I’m going to do is defend the Constitution, so people can label me whatever they want.”
He added that he wishes more members of his party were willing to stand up.
“I certainly wish there were more. I think that’s probably the understatement of the year,” he said. “But I know what I made a commitment to. I’m a Republican, but my oath isn’t even to my party, it’s to the Constitution, so I’m comfortable with that, and I hope more people can become comfortable with that, but that’s everybody’s choice.”
Kinzinger followed up on Wednesday night by calling out members of his party who are more concerned with attacking Republican lawmakers on the committee than the actual people who stormed the Capitol.
Listen to the voicemail and Watch Kinzinger’s interview below, via TMZ.
TW/
DC Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone shares an absolutely disgusting, vulgar voicemail filled with slurs and expletives, that he received after testifying in front of the Jan. 6th committee. pic.twitter.com/cAU6oiAiVV
— The Recount (@therecount) July 28, 2021
