Kevin McCarthy reportedly hired Trump White House staff member to organize rally that fueled Jan. 6 violence

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has come under fire for backing the removal of Liz Cheney from her leadership position. As Congress and law enforcement authorities continue to dig into the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, it was revealed that McCarthy reportedly hired a Trump White House staff member that played a big part in the rally that led to the violence.

In a piece for The Bulwark, commentator Charlie Sykes said that the House Minority Leader hired Brian Jack, former President Donald Trump’s White House Political Director, to organize the “Stop the Steal” rally that ultimately led to the violence on January 6. Sykes goes on to write that Jack called up GOP Congressman Mo Brooks and urged him to speak to Trump’s supporters at the rally in DC on that day. At this time, Jack was still working for the former president.

“So Kevin McCarthy hired Jack knowing that he was pushing Stop the Steal stuff,” wrote Sykes, who is a frequent critic of the pro-Trump faction of the Republican Party.

Previous reports have already surfaced that McCarthy was furious at the former president, calling him as the riots occurred to rein in his supporters and take control. Shortly after the riots, McCarthy said that Trump has “some responsibility” for the violence that led to five people dead and over 100 Capitol Police officers injured. In recent weeks, McCarthy has backtracked on his statements, denying that the former president incited the insurrection.

Former GOP Congressman Paul Mitchell, who retired from the House in 2020, said that the reason for McCarthy backing the removal of Cheney from her position is because he is looking to get elected as House Speaker. Mitchell, who left the Republican Party over concerns with Trump’s false election claims, said that McCarthy is looking to control the dissent within the House GOP in order to win back the majority in the 2022 elections.

“Kevin’s primary interest is achieving the gavel, he will do almost anything to get the gavel and become Speaker, short of throwing his mother under the bus,” Mitchell said to CNN Tuesday. “Unfortunately, the drive for political power for that prestige for some people is extraordinary and I think in this case it’s overwhelmed the best interests of the nation, of members of his party, and will not be long-term good for the country.”