House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stood behind President Trump Thursday after the president’s suggestion that he would be open to foreign dirt on his political opponents sparked outrage on Capitol Hill.
“I’ve watched this president. I’ve listened to this president. He does not want foreign influence in our elections and he’s been very strong on that,” McCarthy told congressional reporters. “I know the president, I know what action he took in the last campaign. Yes, when he was approached by this, he did what was right.”
The California Republican repeatedly dodged questions pressing him on whether Trump set the right tone as president in making his remarks — a contrast to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who said the comments were “a mistake.”
“Did the president ever say he would be more flexible after the next election? No. This president has been tougher on Russia than any president before him. This president, even when you go through a report like the Mueller report that found no collusion, even though foreign entities tried, so the president has gone through this and acted properly all along the way,” McCarthy said.
The GOP leader, however, said he would report any foreign contact to the FBI should he find himself in a similar situation. Trump had previously said he would do the same only if something was wrong.
“I would send it to the authorities, yes,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy also indicated his conference would “gladly” support House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s efforts to introduce legislation in the House that would require candidates to relay foreign offers of opposition research to the FBI.
