Kevin McCarthy scrambles after accidentally speaking his mind – By Steve Benen (MSNBC) / June 28, 2023
Kevin McCarthy occasionally slips, tells accidental truths, and then scrambles to deal with the consequences of his unintended candor.
One of the most important things to know about House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is that he occasionally slips, tells accidental truths, and then scrambles to deal with the consequences of his unintended candor.
Indeed, this has been a staple of the California Republican’s congressional career. In 2015, for example, McCarthy accidentally told the truth about the political purpose of the GOP’s Benghazi committee, sparking an intense backlash from his ostensible allies. About a year later, in comments he didn’t know would reach the public, McCarthy joked to House Republicans that Donald Trump was on Vladimir Putin’s payroll, adding, “Swear to God.” This, too, caused a bit of a stir.
In the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, McCarthy privately told his colleagues that he was prepared to tell Trump he should resign the presidency. Another controversy soon followed.
