In a statement released Thursday, McCarthy denied the report, saying it was “totally false and wrong” — however, audio of a phone conversation between McCarthy and Rep. Liz Cheney confirmed the congressman’s statements.
, McCarthy denied the report, saying it was “totally false and wrong” — however, later that evening, thereleased audio of a phone conversation between McCarthy and Rep. Liz Cheney confirming the congressman’s statement. When asked by Cheney if he believed Trump would voluntarily resign, McCarthy hesitates. “My gut tells me no,” he says in the recording, noting he has not spoken with the then-president “in a couple of days.
McCarthy’s comments came in the days following the attack, including on Jan. 10, as Congress debated impeaching Trump a second time. McCarthy also reportedly told Republicans that Trump “inciting people” to riot days earlier was “atrocious and totally wrong,” and that “nobody can defend that and nobody should defend it.”
McCarthy wasn’t the only Republican leader who wanted Trump out of office. “The Democrats are going to take care of the son of a bitch for us,” Senate Minority Leader reportedly told two advisers on Jan. 11, referring to the upcoming impeachment vote in the House. McConnell also allegedly told them he expected the Senate to convict Trump. “If this isn’t impeachable, I don’t know what is,” he said.