U.S. House Minority Leader U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy is “clearly” trying to hide information he has about the Jan. 6, 2021, invasion of the Capitol by refusing to cooperate with a House committee investigating the incident, according to U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.
On Wednesday, McCarthy, R-California, said he would not cooperate with a request from the committee to voluntarily provide information including details about former President Donald Trump’s state of mind both during the Capitol attack and in the weeks after.
“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 in a statement.
Cheney, however, said that this meant McCarthy was “clearly trying to cover up” what happened during the invasion.
“I wish that he were a brave and honorable man,” she told CNN late Wednesday. “He’s clearly trying to cover up what happened. He has an obligation to come forward and we’ll get to the truth.”
The committee asked McCarthy to discuss conversations he had with Trump before, during and after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
“It appears you may also have discussed with President Trump the potential he would face a censure resolution, impeachment or removal under the 25th Amendment,” the committee said in a letter it sent Wednesday. “It also appears you may have identified other possible options, including President Trump’s immediate resignation from office.”
Cheney was one of the few Republicans to vote to impeach Trump on allegations he incited the invasion. She is also only one of two Republicans serving on the investigation committee.
McCarthy removed Cheney from her position as House Conference chair last year following her impeachment vote for taking positions contrary to those of her fellow congressional Republicans.
