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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has flip-flopped on his stance regarding the January 6 Capitol insurrection, of which he has become a material witness in the congressional investigations. An unearthed interview of McCarthy shortly after the riots revealed that now-former President Donald Trump admitted to him that he was responsible for the insurrection.
Less than a week after the Capitol insurrection occurred, McCarthy revealed in a radio show interview that Trump told him he was responsible for the riots that left five dead and dozens injured. Speaking with a local California radio station, KERN on January 12, 2021, McCarthy not only reiterated his stance that Trump is partly to blame for the Capitol insurrection but also revealed that the former president also told him personally.
“He told me personally that he does have some responsibility,” McCarthy told the radio station in the interview. “I think a lot of people do.”
“Let me be clear to you and I have been very clear to the president. He bears responsibility for his words and actions. No ifs, ands, or buts,” said McCarthy on January 11. “I asked him personally today if he holds responsibility for what happened. If he feels bad about what happened. He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened. But he needs to acknowledge that.”
McCarthy also called for an investigation to be done into the insurrection. The House Minority Leader ultimately voted against the commission, which led to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi establishing a bipartisan Select Committee to investigate the riots. McCarthy boycotted the committee’s formation, which also ultimately led to only two Republicans serving on the panel.
The congressional committee has since requested McCarthy to sit down and testify regarding what he knows about the Capitol insurrection. McCarthy has since blasted the panel and voiced his refusal to testify. However, McCarthy’s refusal to testify would have criminal implications, according to The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent.
Sargent wrote that in refusing to testify before the congressional committee, McCarthy may be helping cover up the possible crimes that Trump has committed. Sargent noted that the House Republican Leader likely has a lot of direct knowledge regarding the now-former president’s conduct as the insurrection transpired.
