House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Monday sent a letter to his fellow House Republicans saying that he opposes impeachment, but floats the possibility of censure — without mentioning President Trump directly.
In a letter obtained by Punchbowl News, McCarthy wrote that impeachment would “have the opposite effect of bringing our country together” as he urged the country to get “back on a path towards unity and civility.”
McCarthy alluded to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) push to impeach Trump, without using either of their names, as he outlined four options he’s heard from his House Republican colleagues to “ensure that the events of January 6 are rightfully denounced and prevented from occurring in the future.”
Conveniently ignoring Trump’s incitement of his supporters prior to their breaching of the Capitol, McCarthy floated the options of censure and a bipartisan committee to “investigate circumstances surrounding the attack.”
McCarthy also regurgitated his Trumpian rhetoric by listing the options of “reforming the Electoral Act of 1887” as well as “legislation to promote voter confidence in future federal elections.”
NEWS — @GOPLeader has sent out a letter the House Republicans saying he’s against impeachment.
But he floats censure, committee to study elections and the attack.
No mention of President Trump. pic.twitter.com/jBGFyzmiWa
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 11, 2021
Punchbowl News also reported on Monday that shortly after the House minority leader issued his vague suggestions in response to the Capitol riots, McCarthy claimed that Trump “does bear some responsibility” for the mayhem he incited, but called for Republicans “to be united.”
McCarthy’s letter on Monday rehashed his attempts to portray himself as the nation’s great unifier as he announced plans last week to chat with President-elect Joe Biden on how to unite the country following the Capitol riot, despite how the House minority leader egged on Trump’s bogus election fraud claims that eventually became fodder for a deadly insurrection of the Capitol by Trump’s supporters.
“I have reached out to President-elect Biden today and plan to speak to him about how we much work together to lower the temperature and unit the country,” McCarthy wrote, while voicing his opposition to Democratic colleagues’ call for Trump’s impeachment in the aftermath of the Capitol siege.
Even after the violent insurrection at the Capitol last week, McCarthy joined a majority of his GOP colleagues in voting to reject the election results from Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Impeaching the President with just 12 days left will only divide our country more. I've reached out to President-elect Biden today & plan to speak to him about how we must work together to lower the temperature & unite the country to solve America’s challenges.
My full statement pic.twitter.com/EkkmOAkb7i
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 8, 2021
