The Archive

BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the lawmaker most closely aligned with President Donald Trump. He has been one of the president’s closest advisers and a constant presence in the Trump White House.

Now, a huge chunk of the GOP is looking to a Trump-less future. Many are beginning to put space between themselves and the president. And McCarthy is beginning to position himself for his future after Trump encouraged a mob riot in the Capitol.

And he’s holding a conference call with his donors to discuss the future next week. Here is an email he sent last night:

All,

January 6th was a dark day in our country’s esteemed history.  

I completely condemn the violence, destruction, and chaos caused by mob rioters at the United States Capitol.  Our representative democracy must not be disrupted by such criminal behavior, and we must lower the partisan temperature that is gripping our nation.  

It is time that we unite as Americans for a peaceful transfer of power on January 20 and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to start the healing process of our country.  Next week, I hope that you will join me on a conference call to discuss this further (my staff will be in touch with additional details as the House may be called back in session next week).

In the coming weeks and months, we must work to recharge the light of our shining city on a hill.

Best,

Kevin

We will keep you posted on what McCarthy says on this call. You will note: he doesn’t talk about Trump here. McCarthy had a screaming match with Trump during the riot Wednesday when Trump was dragging his feet on calling out the mob. 

This call comes at a very interesting time for congressional Republicans. The House GOP leadership is split, with Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 from Wyoming, setting herself out as the Republican willing to call Trump out. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is all but done with Trump, people close to him say. His wife, Elaine Chao, resigned as Trump’s Transportation secretary. That leaves McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) as the president’s highest-profile guys on Capitol Hill.

The Republican Party has indeed become a Trump-first political apparatus. But many lawmakers are looking to change that. It may be a touch easier now that Trump has been banned from Twitter, which has long been his loudest megaphone.

At the same time, the House is moving toward impeaching Trump to encourage the riot. There are Republicans in the House who will vote for impeachment, sources tell us. Others have said it’s a politically motivated attack with just days left in Trump’s presidency.

CLIP FILE

Nancy Pelosi taped an interview with CBS’s Leslie Stahl Friday. 

NYT: Trip Gabriel: “Trump’s Legacy: Voters Who Reject Democracy and Any Politics but Their Own” … 

… Jim Tankersley, Peter Eavis and Lauren Hirsch: “Loyal to Trump for Years, Manufacturing Group Now Calls for His Removal” … 

… Aishvarya Kavi: “Rampage Weighs on Congressional Staff Members and Capitol Workers” … 

… Brooks Barnes in L.A.: “Louise Linton Has Made a Movie”

WaPo: Nitasha Tiku, Tony Romm and Craig Timberg: “Twitter bans Trump’s account, citing risk of further violence” … 

… Josh Dawsey in Amelia Island, Fla.: “At party retreat far from D.C. turmoil, Republicans still sing praises of Trump”

… Peter Hermann, Rachel Weiner, Joe Heim and Tom Jackman: “U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died after assault on Capitol, protected with a kind touch”

… Peter Jamison, Hannah Natanson, John Woodrow Cox and Alex Horton ‘The storm is here’: Ashli Babbitt’s journey from capital ‘guardian’ to invader”