Kevin McCarthy Defends Trump Amid DOJ Jan. 6 Investigation

In a recent show of support, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) came to the defense of former President Donald Trump amid reports of a potential indictment by the Department of Justice over his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 protest on Capitol Hill.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is defending former President Trump for his actions surrounding the Jan. 6th saying Trump had encouraged a peaceful protest that day. https://t.co/oXWyWT1kNJ

— The Hill (@thehill) July 19, 2023

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, McCarthy asserted that he sees no grounds to hold the former president criminally responsible for the events of the day, a sentiment shared by various leaders in the GOP who have rallied to Trump’s defense.

“I don’t see how he could be found criminally responsible,” McCarthy stated. “What criminal activity did he do? He told people to be peaceful.”

McCarthy’s statements come days after Trump revealed that he had been sent a target letter by special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he would appear before a grand jury this week. The letter comes with chances of the former president being indicted, an outcome his supporters and many within the GOP have kicked against.

“THIS WITCH HUNT IS ALL ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND A COMPLETE AND TOTAL POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT! It is a very sad and dark period for our Nation!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social in reaction to the investigation which comes amid his classified documents case.

McCarthy disclosed that he had spoken with Trump on Tuesday and shared the GOP presidential candidate’s frustration at being targeted by the justice department. “Wouldn’t you feel frustrated?” he questioned.

The House Speaker went on to assert that the Biden Administration was using government resources to go after Trump, who currently stands as President Joe Biden’s primary political opponent. “This is not equal justice. It’s wrong, and the American public is tired of it,” he said.

Challenging claims that his conversation with Trump was a “strategy session” to unite Republicans behind a response to potential indictments, McCarthy pointed fingers at the Biden administration, suggesting they conducted such sessions to target the president’s political adversaries.

“I think the strategy sessions happen in the Democrats’ Department of Justice, where they go after anybody who’s running against the president. “It seems as though — and if you go up in the polls you’re more likely to get indicted,” he contended.

When asked about the matter, McCarthy’s counterpart, minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), opted not to comment on the matter. “I’ve said every week out here that I’m not going to comment on the various candidates for the presidency. How I felt about that I expressed at the time, but I’m not going to start getting into sort of critiquing the various candidates for president,” he responded.

Following the conclusion of the Senate’s impeachment trial into Trump after the protest, McConnell had previously asserted that Trump “is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.”

While McConnel had no words, McCarthy is not alone in his show of support, as House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) revealed she also spoke to the former president after learning of the target letter. 

To her, this development is “yet again another example of Joe Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice targeting his top political opponent.”

Meanwhile, the DOJ’s investigation into Hunter Biden continues to proceed slowly. Both McCarthy and Stefanik believe that the real criminal conspiracy lies in that direction, not with Trump’s involvement in the events of Jan. 6.

As this situation unfolds, Republicans across the nation are closely monitoring the DOJ’s actions, hoping for fair treatment and justice for all, regardless of political affiliation.