MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Thursday aired audio of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) saying he was considering asking former President Trump to resign in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. the Capitol.
In the audio clip, which was shared by reporters from The New York Times, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) asks the House GOP leader if he was hearing that Trump might resign or had any reason to believe it could happen.
Addressing the likelihood that Congress would impeach Trump, McCarthy says, “The only discussion I would have with him is that I think this will pass, 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.”
In response to the Times’s reporting, McCarthy released a lengthy statement denying that he had ever said such a thing during a House leadership call on Jan. 10, 2021.
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”The New York Times’ reporting on me is totally false and wrong,” McCarthy said. “It comes as no surprise that the corporate media is obsessed with doing everything it can to further a liberal agenda. This promotional book tour is no different. If the reporters were interested in truth why would they ask for comment after the book was printed?”
Hours later Maddow aired the audio, showing that he actually said it.
In the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, McCarthy claimed in a public statement that “the president bears responsibility” for the insurrection, adding “these facts require immediate action from President Trump, accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure President-elect Biden is successfully able to begin his term.”
Days later, however, he changed his tune and decided to protect Trump.
The release of the audio recording comes months ahead of the November midterms, in which Republicans are seeking to regain majorities in the House and Senate. McCarthy is eyeing the House Speaker’s gavel if his party takes control of the lower chamber.
Listen to the audio below:
NEWS: @maddow has audio of Kevin McCarthy saying privately after Jan. 6 that he expects impeachment to pass and was considering asking Donald Trump to resign.
Here’s the tape 👇 pic.twitter.com/hXmz2X9RqA
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 22, 2022
