In a Thursday Twitter post, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) went directly after House GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for continuing to prop up former President Donald Trump, even after serious scandals such as last year’s attack on the Capitol directly inspired by the then-president’s lies about the election. Since then, Trump has at times excused the rioters, spoken of pardoning them if re-elected to the presidency, focused efforts on supporting Republican primary candidates who back his conspiracies, ranted against NATO during a devastating military conflict sparked by Russian incursions, and pleaded for the murderous authoritarian leader behind that conflict to help his political ambitions. Trump publicly asked for Russian President Vladimir Putin to release purportedly damaging information on the Bidens regarding a monetary transfer from the wife of a former mayor of Moscow.
What do you call it when you reportedly say that you'll push Trump to resign, then back down, vote against impeachment and spend the next 15 months aiding his attacks on democracy?
We don't know what Kevin McCarthy calls his behavior, but we'd call it cowardly and seditious.
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 21, 2022
And where’s McCarthy in all of this, as Trump flails? Still supporting Trump and the Trump-aligned elements of the GOP. In a Twitter post, MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough shared a reported quote from McCarthy, who apparently said after the Capitol riot that he’d “had it with this guy,” meaning Trump. McCarthy also apparently spoke to Republican leaders about opposing Trump’s continued political future — but that resolve swiftly disappeared. Including a photograph depicting McCarthy and Trump together not long after the Capitol riot, Kinzinger pointedly remarked:
‘McCarthy was over Trump until he wasn’t, when he realized he needed him. This picture literally resurrected [Trump’s] political life. Thanks Kev.’
100 percent true. McCarthy was over Trump until he wasn’t, when he realized he needed him. This picture 👇👇 literally resurrected Trumps political life. Thanks Kev. https://t.co/aF6tcJSMB2 pic.twitter.com/Gt7l9kxAFn
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) April 21, 2022
