House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday papered over the significant skepticism of the 2020 presidential election within the GOP just hours after his conference deposed Rep. Liz Cheney for criticizing fellow Republicans over that very issue.
“I don’t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election,” McCarthy said after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House alongside other congressional leaders.
McCarthy’s comments run counter to the the campaign he greenlighted to boot Cheney (R-Wyo.), until today the GOP’s highest-ranking woman, from her role as conference chair. Cheney put herself at odds with former President Donald Trump and his wing of the party after openly admonishing him for repeatedly perpetuating false claims about the 2020 elections and his role in inciting a deadly riot at the Capitol in January.
“We have seen the danger that he continues to provoke with his language,” Cheney told reporters after Wednesday’s closed-door vote. “We have seen his lack of commitment and dedication to the constitution. And I think it’s very important that we make sure whomever we elect is somebody who will be faithful to the constitution.”