House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Wednesday that President Trump is responsible for the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week, but opposes impeaching the president for a second time.
The top House Republican made the remarks as the House was debating an article to impeach Trump for inciting the deadly attack on the Capitol.
“I believe impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake,” McCarthy said. “A vote to impeach would further divide this nation, a vote to impeach would further fan the flames of partisan division.”
McCarthy continued by saying that most Americans want “durable bipartisan justice” for the violence at the Capitol, adding, “that is not the path that we’re on today.”
“That doesn’t mean the president is free from fault; the president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding,” McCarthy said.
“These facts require immediate action from President Trump, accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure President-elect [Joe] Biden is successfully able to begin his term,” he added.
McCarthy also called for a censure resolution against Trump, and a fact-finding commission to investigate last week’s attacks.
“And the president’s immediate action also deserves congressional action, which is why I think a fact-finding commission and a censure resolution would be prudent. Unfortunately, that is not where we are today,” he said.
McCarthy then called on Americans to unite together, and remember “what we as a nation stand for.”
“As history shows, unity is not an option, it’s a necessity,” he said. “It is as necessary today as it was at the start of our country.”
Five people died after a mob of Trump’s supporters ransacked the Capitol last Wednesday in what was the first attack on the Capitol building in over 200 years. Rioters damaged windows, ransacked offices and defaced statues.
More than 100 people have been arrested in the wake of the riot, and many have also lost their jobs after being identified on social media.