House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told fellow lawmakers on Monday that he does not support impeaching President Trump in the final days of his presidency, but he raised other possible ways to address the Jan. 6 Capitol violence, including censuring the president.
McCarthy said zip ties were found on staff desks in his smashed and damaged Capitol office and told lawmakers, “I share your anger and your pain.”
“Personally, I continue to believe that an impeachment at this time would have the opposite effect of bringing our country together when we need to get America back on a path towards unity and civility,” McCarthy wrote to fellow lawmakers in a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner. “Notwithstanding the Speaker’s push towards impeachment, I have heard from members across our conference who have raised at least four potential avenues available to the House to ensure that the events of January 6 are rightfully denounced and prevented from occurring in the future.”
The California Republican, who has been a staunch Trump supporter, said the House could consider censuring Trump, who many blame for inciting the Jan. 6 violent takeover of the Capitol that left five people dead, dozens injured, and the historic building damaged.
McCarthy said lawmakers could also consider creating a bipartisan commission to examine “the circumstances surrounding the attack,” a measure to reform how Congress counts electoral votes for the president, and legislation to boost voter confidence.
McCarthy said he has spoken to many members in the conference about the attack on Jan. 6 and acknowledged that “those images will never leave us.”
He added: “In the same breath, I have also heard profound resolve from our conference in the face of this evil. From the dean of the House to our new members who were just sworn in a week ago, you feel an even deeper sense of service and move forward with a renewed clarity of purpose — both for our shared principles and for the future of our nation.”
The House Democratic majority plans to bring up and pass one impeachment resolution beginning on Wednesday, charging Trump with inciting an insurrection. Trump has nine days left in office.
