On Friday, lawyers for the twice-impeached former president, Donald Trump, argued during the Senate impeachment trial that he acted quickly to stop the act of domestic terrorism he inspired on January 6, 2021, the day that Trump’s supporters took over the Capitol Building that ended with five people dead. The timeline of the events has already proven that false.
During the attack, McCarthy told Trump the rioters were his supporters. Trump replied, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are." McCarthy replied, "who the f*** do you think you are talking to?" (h/t @jamiegangel) https://t.co/KsKSMszbTz
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) February 12, 2021
However, details of a phone call between Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), sourced to multiple Republican members of Congress, drives the point home. McCarthy briefed his party’s representatives on the call, details of which were provided to CNN, in which McCarthy begged Trump to call off the rioters.
According to CNN:
‘In an expletive-laced phone call with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy while the Capitol was under attack, then-President Donald Trump said the rioters cared more about the election results than McCarthy did.
‘”Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Trump said, according to lawmakers who were briefed on the call afterward by McCarthy.’
New details on Trump call with Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on 1/6.
With Trump refusing to issue statement to rioters to stand down.
Trump: “Well Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
Sources: GOP House members pic.twitter.com/FManBOZumU
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 12, 2021
Republican members of Congress thought it was important to reveal the details as the case winds down after having heard the false and ridiculous statements made by Trump’s attorneys. It is unclear at this point if any witnesses will be called, but McCarthy should have to, and should have already, revealed the content of the call to lawmakers.
‘Trump’s comment set off what Republican lawmakers familiar with the call described as a shouting match between the two men. A furious McCarthy told the President the rioters were breaking into his office through the windows, and asked Trump, “Who the f–k do you think you are talking to?” according to a Republican lawmaker familiar with the call.’
With breaking news, I don’t know how you don’t call witnesses. https://t.co/1I010mDqcJ
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) February 13, 2021
Most of the lawmakers who spoke to reporters allowed their names to be revealed, furious at the president for ignoring the deadly chaos and even appearing to support it. His own vice president, Mike Pence, was in the building and the target of Trump’s supporters, who they said they wanted to hang, at the time of the call.
Rep. Herrera Beutler (R-WA) told CNN:
‘You have to look at what he did during the insurrection to confirm where his mind was at. That line right there demonstrates to me that either he didn’t care, which is impeachable, because you cannot allow an attack on your soil, or he wanted it to happen and was OK with it, which makes me so angry.
‘We should never stand for that, for any reason, under any party flag. I’m trying really hard not to say the F-word.’
People in more than 200 countries and territories around the world are watching this 2nd Trump impeachment trial on @CNN and are no doubt wondering – as we all are – how this pro-Trump insurrection could have happened in the United States of America.
— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) February 11, 2021
