This morning House Republicans had a meeting and one of the big topics was punishing the 13 Republicans who voted for the Democrat ‘infrastructure’ bill. McCarthy was against punishing them.
NEW: During a closed door party meeting, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urged Republicans to stick together as some in the conference vow retaliation against the 13 Rs who voted for infrastructure, saying now isn’t the time to go after fellow members, per sources in room.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
McCarthy also told members he talked to Gosar about his anime video depicting violence against Dems & he took the vid down. He pointed out Dems havent punished their own members like Maxine Waters, who said “we’ve got to get more confrontational” about police brutality.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
Gosar also got up at the mics to try to explain his anime video and said a threat of violence was not his intention, sources said.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
Despite McCarthy’s plea for ‘unity’, many are very upset at these 13 members:
Despite McCarthy’s plea, Rep. Dan Bishop filed a resolution to strip Rep. John Katko of his ranker position on the homeland security committee, but it was referred to the steering committee where leadership can essentially bury it, per lawmakers in the room. https://t.co/k7ce9DIe1f
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
Rep. Brian Babin tells me people are really “mad” and “upset” that Republicans didn’t stay unified in opposition to the infrastructure bill and is considering supporting this resolution.
Rep. Jim Jordan, a McCarthy ally, says there “ought to be a discussion” about it. https://t.co/rkM5X6Fja0
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
Rep. Ralph Norman, a freedom caucus member, tells me “the time is right” to pursue punishment against Katko.
But several Rs — including some that opposed infra — did stand up during meeting to defend the infrastructure Rs, saying everyone has a right to vote their districts. https://t.co/eNY3rBIxJ6
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
Chip Roy reportedly got into an argument with McCarthy over his refusal to punish these 13 Republicans:
MORE NEWS from GOP meeting: Rep. Chip Roy and McCarthy got into a heated exchange, per source.
Roy lamented that he has to now go back to his district and explain why people should bother voting Republican when they handed a victory to Dems, and argued leadership should act.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
McCarthy then got up and shot back that he’s had to explain to voters many times votes that Roy has taken.
Roy pressed McCarthy to name which votes he was taking about — “Really?”said Roy — but McCarthy didn’t name any, the source said.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) November 16, 2021
McCarthy likes to talk a tough game sometimes, but in the end he never seems to act. Just another California Republican. I’m still waiting on him to punish Liz Cheney.
But in this case, he’s not even talking a tough game. Instead he’s going soft like he always does and I’m glad Chip Roy called him out. Honestly, It’s high time for someone like Chip Roy to take McCarthy’s place.