Kevin McCarthy, House Republican Minority Chairman once supported a January 6 commission to investigate what happened on the day of the uprising, what led to it, and why. How could thousands of people storm Capitol Hill and at least hundreds break the halls of Congress in an attempted coup when lawmakers met to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to uphold the results of a free and fair election?
Last week, McCarthy threw cold water on a bipartisan agreement on a bill that the group would create. Now, on Tuesday, he announced that he was completely opposed to a commission.
Given his previous stance, the reported screaming phone call with then-President Donald Trump during the Capitol attack, his speech on the floor of the house after the riot, and his now-undone claim that Trump was in charge, this is quite a turnaround for the uprising.
Republican lawmakers in the House lied about the uprising last week. One claimed there was no riot and another insisted it looked like a normal tourist visit. The goal of the GOP: To make Americans believe it didn’t happen.
A January 6 commission would do the opposite.
“Given the political misdirections that have undermined this process, given the now dual and potentially counterproductive nature of these efforts, and the short-sighted scope of the speaker who does not examine the interrelated forms of political violence in America, I cannot support this legislation,” said McCarthy in a statement. “The Democrats’ renewed focus on creating an additional commission now ignores the political violence that hit American cities, a Republican Congress baseball practice, and most recently the deadly attack on the Capitol Police on April 2, 2021.”
Republicans have tried to equate the nationwide, almost entirely peaceful, protests against Black Lives Matter with the Capitol coup in hopes of using the commission as a political tool to attack Democrats.
“Of course,” McCarthy opposes the commission, says Jennifer Bendery, senior policy reporter at HuffPost. “Trump’s lies about electoral fraud fueled a violent mob – and GOPers like McCarthy repeated those lies for months.”
“Don’t forget that McCarthy reinforced Trump’s lies more than anyone,” she adds. “After Biden won, on Fox News: ‘Trump won this election. Everyone who listens: don’t be still. Do not be silent about it. We cannot allow this to happen in front of our eyes. ‘“
Attorney and former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa adds:
McCarthy is a key factual witness on Jan. 6 and has a self-interest not to expose (or testify) what happened. This is a repetition of the GOP’s attempt to stop the investigation into Russia and, later, the impeachment in Ukraine. Rinse and repeat. https://t.co/cVFLSsriFd
– Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) May 18, 2021
Other journalists, legal experts and political commentators also come out on why they believe McCarthy has made a complete turnaround. Many suggest that he is against the commission because he has some responsibility for what happened on January 6th.
As one of the people who spoke to Donald Trump during the uprising, Kevin McCarthy must testify. He has direct knowledge and a first hand report. His talks with Trump that day are in no way privileged. https://t.co/qlb3io864T
– Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) May 18, 2021
Sorta feels like an “open air cover-up”. https://t.co/90GrHppEP2
– Glenn Kirschner (@ glennkirschner2), May 18, 2021
When McCarthy was hiding from the insurgents, he found Trump so disinterested on the phone that he called Fox News live to get the president to understand the gravity of the situation. Https://t.co/DNLQX5KkE6
– Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) May 18, 2021
Kevin McCarthy is nothing more than a spineless fool and traitor to our democracy. Repeat what he said and report his actions during the riot when he asked for help! Https://t.co/HNfx0HKj9e
– Amy Siskind @ (@Amy_Siskind) May 18, 2021
McCarthy’s stated reason for rejecting the commission on January 6 is that Pelosi “refused to negotiate in good faith on basic parameters”.
With the exception of Pelosi, practically all of the GOP’s demands:
* Same representation
* Shared subpoena power
* Report due by the end of the year
– Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) May 18, 2021
No wonder Kevin McCarthy will do everything in his power to deny, derail, and discredit a commission focused on what happened on January 6th.
Surely Dems know that.
– Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) May 18, 2021
This tweet from Kevin McCarthy is ongoing and compares Biden’s election victory to a “fight”. pic.twitter.com/z6kjLh3n91
– Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) May 18, 2021
We know GOP members have toured the Capitol. We know they spoke at the rally. We know they communicated with the terrorists. We know McCarthy asked Trump for help. We now know @GOPLeader is dying to cover it up. Investigate Congress Now! #NeverMoveOn
– Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) May 18, 2021
3 / More important in their minds is something darker.
They see the majority in their grip, and just as in the states of this year, they will swiftly, mercilessly, and without a moment’s hesitation, slam a scintilla of shame to make the next elections the last.
– Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 18, 2021
4 / For them the problem was not an attack on our republic or a democratic choice. The problem for Kevin and Co was that it didn’t work the first time. You need the shock and awe, the spectacle, the threat of the Trumphadi terror out there.
– Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 18, 2021
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