Insider
Liz Cheney says Kevin McCarthy is ‘clearly trying to cover up what happened’ at the Capitol riot after he refused to work with investigators
Sinéad Baker January 13, 2022
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy refused to cooperate with Capitol-riot investigators.
- Liz Cheney, who is on the committee, said he was trying to “cover up” what happened at the riot.
- McCarthy called the committee “illegitimate” and said it was trying to hurt Republicans.
Rep. Liz Cheney said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was trying to “cover up” what happened at the Capitol riot by refusing to work with the House committee investigating it.
Cheney, one of two Republicans on the committee, told CNN on Wednesday: “I wish that he were a brave and honorable man. He’s clearly trying to cover up what happened. He has an obligation to come forward and we’ll get to the truth.”
She also refused to rule out the option of subpoenaing him, CNN reported.
McCarthy had said in a statement earlier on Wednesday that he would not work with the committee, which he called “illegitimate” and accused of trying to damage Republicans.
“As a representative and the leader of the minority party, it is with neither regret nor satisfaction that I have concluded to not participate with this select committee’s abuse of power that stains this institution today and will harm it going forward,” he said.
The committee had asked him to take part voluntarily in its investigation, noting that he has said he spoke with then-President Donald Trump while the riot was unfolding and that he spoke on the House floor after the insurrection about Trump’s role in it.
McCarthy said in that speech that Trump bore responsibility for the riot, though he has since downplayed it and suggested people need to move on from the attack.
Cheney, in stark contrast with some other Republicans, has repeatedly criticized Trump over the riot. She was the third-most-senior House Republican before her party removed her from leadership last May over her comments on Trump.