House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told fellow Republicans Monday that President Trump accepted blame for the Wednesday violent takeover of the United States Capitol by throngs of his supporters.
“Trump told McCarthy that he bore blame” for the siege, a source familiar with the call told the Washington Examiner.
McCarthy, a California Republican, has been among the president’s top supporters and speaks to him regularly by phone.
Trump has not publicly acknowledged any responsibility for the hourslong attack, which resulted in the deaths of five, dozens of injuries, and extensive damage throughout the Capitol. The siege began after Trump hosted a protest near the Capitol grounds to send a message to lawmakers that he believed the election was decided fraudulently for Democrat Joe Biden and they should declare him the victor during the certification process held that day.
Democrats are now poised to impeach Trump this week for “inciting an insurrection.”
Some Republicans are expected to join Democrats in the vote to impeach Trump, but the U.S. Senate is unlikely to convene in time to consider the article before Trump leaves office at noon on Jan. 20.
In a memo to Republicans ahead of the call Monday, McCarthy told fellow lawmakers he does not back impeachment and suggested other measures, including censure of the president.
