President Trump admitted on Monday that he is, at least partially, to blame for what happened in the United States Capitol last Wednesday.
This is according to House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who spoke to the president on Monday and then conveyed Trump’s sentiments to fellow Republican members of the House.
Several Republicans familiar with the exchanges confirmed the details to CBS News.
The call between the president and the House’s top Republican came on the same day that Trump met face to face in the Oval Office with Vice President Pence for the first time since the deadly siege, during which protesters were heard shouting: ” Hang Mike Pence! “
Disclosure to high-ranking Republicans comes as the House is expected to vote on Tuesday a resolution calling for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment with cabinet secretaries to remove the president from office. If Pence and the Cabinet do not, the House is expected to vote on Wednesday an impeachment article against Mr. Trump, holding you accountable for inciting the crowd that attacked the Capitol, leaving five people dead.
While many Republican congressmen have expressed opposition to Trump’s impeachment a second time, including McCarthy, a handful of Republican senators have signaled that they are open to impeachment charges or have asked the president to step down before his term ends on January 20.
McCarthy shared details of his call with the president to Republican colleagues during a conference call on Monday, people familiar with the exchange said.
In a letter sent to House Republicans and obtained by CBS News, McCarthy wrote that he continues to oppose impeachment, writing this “would have the opposite effect of uniting our country when we need to put the United States back on the path of unity and civility. “
He said conference members recommended other ways to address the Capitol disturbances on Wednesday, including the creation of a bipartisan commission to study the attack, reforming the Electoral Counting Act of 1887 and drafting legislation to “promote voter confidence in future federal elections”.
The other option that McCarthy mentioned was a censorship resolution, although he did not say who would be censored. The letter did not mention Mr. Trump’s name.
McCarthy also reiterated to Republican colleagues in the House that he also believes the president has some responsibility for the crowd and the attack on the Capitol.
The House leader was among many senior Republicans who spoke to the president during the attack on Wednesday and pleaded with him to cancel his supporters and send military aid to contain the disturbances.
Kimberly Brown contributed reporting.