House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is revealing whether he would be willing to testify before a commission designed to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
McCarthy was asked on Thursday whether he would be willing to testify before the commission about a conversation he had with former President Donald Trump in the midst of the violence.
He responded, “Sure, next question.”
CNN’s @mkraju asks House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy if he would be willing to testify to an outside commission about his conversation with former President Trump on January 6th.
McCarthy: “Sure, next question.” pic.twitter.com/lLZOT3HmFv
— The Recount (@therecount) May 20, 2021
Earlier this year, it was reported that McCarthy and Trump got into a “shouting match” during a phone call as Trump supporters were storming the Capitol.
McCarthy was reportedly heard asking the former president, “Who the f**k do you think you are talking to?”
Additionally, Trump allegedly told him, “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
However, he denied the reports of the phone call during an appearance on Fox News in April.
“When I talked to President Trump about [it], I was the first person to contact him when the riots were going on. He didn’t see it. When he ended the call [he] was telling me he would put something out to make sure to stop this. And that’s what he did, he put a video out later,” McCarthy said.
He added, “My conversations with the president are my conversations with the president. I engaged in the idea of making sure we could stop what was going on inside the Capitol at that moment in time. The president said he would help.”
The House voted 252-175 to create a commission to investigate the insurrection on January 6. Thirty-five Republicans voted in favor of it.
However, it is unclear whether there are enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill. Senate Minority Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he is opposed to it.
And Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who voted to convict Trump on the impeachment charge of incitement of insurrection, told reporters that he does not believe a commission is necessary to investigate the violence.
“I don’t believe establishing a new commission is necessary or wise,” says Sen. Richard Burr, one of seven GOP senators who backed Trump’s conviction, all-but dashing hopes for 10 Republicans to break ranks and overcome a filibuster
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) May 20, 2021
At least 10 Republicans would need to join with Democrats in favor of the bill for it to pass the Senate.
