Former President acknowledged bearing ‘some responsibility’ for the events around the January 6 Capitol riot, according to the House Republican leader.
Representative Kevin McCarthy spoke to Republican lawmakers about the matter on January 11, 2021, days after Trump fans stormed the Capitol building trying to stop Congress from certifying the presidential election in ’s favor.
‘Let me be very clear to all of you, and I have been very clear to the president: he bears responsibilities for his words and actions. No if, ands or buts,’ McCarthy said on the call, an audio recording of which was obtained and revealed by on Friday.
‘I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened and he’d need to acknowledge that.’
McCarthy’s call conflicts with Trump’s continued refusal to accept responsibility for the insurrection that left five people dead and more than 100 police officers injured.
The Republican leader was asked during a press conference in January about the call, but he dodged the question.
‘I’m not sure what call you’re talking about,’ McCarthy told reporters.
Trump has not commented publicly on Friday’s report.
On Thursday, reported that McCarthy told fellow GOP members that he planned to urge Trump to resign as president. It was based off the forthcoming book This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns.
McCarthy in an audio clip of a different phone call with GOP lawmakers said he would speak to Trump about the impeachment resolution he faced.
‘I think this will pass, and it would be my recommendation you should resign,’ McCarthy said in the clip.
But McCarthy disputed The Times’ report on Thursday.
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