Hoyer apologizes publicly to McCarthy for ‘coward’ remark

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) publicly apologized to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Friday morning for calling him a “coward.”

Hoyer and McCarthy had engaged in a brief floor colloquy Thursday night discussing the next day’s schedule to consider a three-week stopgap bill funding the Department of Homeland Security before the Friday at midnight deadline.

{mosads}Hoyer appeared to vent his feelings too close to the microphone, as he can be heard saying, “You’re a coward.” CNN reported Thursday night that Hoyer apologized privately to McCarthy shortly afterward.

But Hoyer delivered a House floor speech to clear the air.

“I rise to publicly apologize to Leader McCarthy for a remark I made to myself, but was picked up by the House microphone yesterday. It was said out of frustration and anger, it was wrong, and I have apologized privately to Mr. McCarthy, who I believe is a man of integrity,” Hoyer said.