Members of the House Republican Conference last week ignored Leader Kevin McCarthy when he warned them not to criticize colleagues by name on the basis of intelligence that could lead to more political violence.
Why it matters: McCarthy made it clear that opponents who drop a name, instead of speaking complaints in more general terms, can be a literal target on a politician, especially with the tensions so high after the events of January 6.
That’s what happened to Rep. Liz Cheney, the chair of the GOP conference, after saying she would support President Trump’s impeachment.
- She and several other members had to increase their safety and take extra precautions due to death threats and other alarming warnings after their colleagues mentioned them in their complaints.
What McCarthy Said: The House minority leader issued his warning during a conference call last Monday. He said his concern was driven by the FBI briefings he received.
- ‘It doesn’t matter which side of the position you were on: I respect it, I respect why you did what you did. But what we say on television, when we say a member’s name … Now is not the time to do it. ”
- “You can turn on something else. The country is very divided and we know it. Let’s not post a member, I don’t care who they are Republican, Democrat or whoever, not even in Congress. Pay close attention to our words. . I understand these weekly reports. I’ve seen something that I haven’t seen before. “
Few minutes later, McCarthy echoed the message: “The emotions are high. What you say is important. Let’s not endanger other people. Let’s see what words we use and certainly not the names of other members in any media. “
Days later, some GOP members ignored him and openly criticized their colleagues
- Representative Adam Kinzinger tweeted that the name of his Republican colleague, Rep. Major Taylor Greene, “will be forgotten by January”.
- Rep. Lauren Boebart (R-Colo.) Mocked Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the House’s new mask fines.
One of the most blatant attacks, which sparked a media firestorm, was when several members of the House Freedom Caucus chased Cheney for voting to impeach Trump.
- On the day of the vote, members circulated a petition to remove her from her leading role.
- Cheney is now engaged in a series of threats against her, many from ardent Trump supporters angry at her voice, a source with direct knowledge of the said threat.
- “We do not comment on security issues,” Cheney’s communications director, Jeremy Adler, told Axios.
What we hear: McCarthy’s team told Axios he’s not looking for repercussions. Spokesman Matt Sparks said the leader wants to lower the temperature and encourage members to consider the current environment.