Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) praised Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) in a Time magazine profile published on Wednesday, stating that the congressman “proved the measure of his courage” by standing against former President Trump and breaking with the rest of his party.
Hogan lauded Kinzinger’s decision to call for Trump’s removal following the violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
“Over the past few months, Congressman Adam Kinzinger has stood up for the truth when it was most challenging and least convenient,” Hogan wrote as part of a magazine series honoring influential leaders. “In the wake of the insurrection at the Capitol in January, Adam was the first Republican member of Congress to step forward and call for the removal of President Trump from office via the 25th Amendment. In standing up for what he believed was right, Adam proved the measure of his courage.”
Hogan also wrote that Kinzinger’s previous military service helped to prime him for a role in which he needed to act with integrity. He added that that Kinzinger was not afraid to lead by example.
“Adam knows what it really means to sacrifice for your country. He understands that the willingness to do so is the minimum requirement of leadership. No job or title is worth more than your integrity,” Hogan wrote.
“Through his example, Adam is paving the way for others to follow their conscience. I believe he has a bright future ahead, but more important, he will be remembered well by history,” Hogan added.
Kinzinger acknowledged last month that his vote to impeach Trump could be “terminal” to his career, but said he was willing to lose his House seat over it.
The Illinois congressman, who emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken GOP detractors, has also launched a new PAC aimed at challenging the GOP’s acceptance of the former commander in chief. Kinzinger said he plans to target two of Trump’s most ardent defenders in the lower chamber — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Hogan, a critic of Trump and a potential contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, also called for Trump to resign or be removed from office after the riot and said he would have voted to convict the former president had he been in the Senate, which acquitted Trump last weekend.