Reporters fact-check McCarthy for saying he doesn't 'think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the election'
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is facing a fierce fact-check from journalists after making another revisionist claim about his party's response to the 2020 election.
On Wednesday, May 12, McCarthy spoke to reporters after attending a meeting with President Joe Biden. While speaking to reporters, the California lawmaker said, "I don't think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election. I think that is all over with. We're sitting here with the president today."
After first WH meeting with @POTUS, @GOPLeader McCarthy responds to @kwelkernbc \u201c\u2026I don\u2019t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election. I think that is all over with. We\u2019re sitting with the president today.\u201dpic.twitter.com/XP3KwydE5b— Kelly O'Donnell (@Kelly O'Donnell) 1620838844
The perplexing comment quickly caught the attention of reporters who jumped at the opportunity to fact-check McCarthy for his inaccurate claims. On May 7, former President Donald Trump called the election the "Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020" in a message to his supporters.
Now, McCarthy is facing a Twitter storm from reporters.
HuffPost Politics reporter Jennifer Bendery tweeted, "Kevin McCarthy was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the presidential election based on lies about election fraud -- just hours after a deadly Capitol insurrection fueled by those same lies."
Kevin McCarthy was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the presidential election based on lies about election fraud -- just hours after a deadly Capitol insurrection fueled by those same lies. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-overturn-election-results-capitol-insurrection_n_5ffc732fc5b63642b6fdc5d0?9kd\u00a0\u2026https://twitter.com/jcartillier/status/1392523962043744264\u00a0\u2026— Jennifer Bendery (@Jennifer Bendery) 1620839951
Lest we forget: Kevin McCarthy in the days after the election, on Fox News:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump won this election. Everyone who\u2019s listening: Do not be quiet. Do not be silent about this. We cannot allow this to happen before our very eyes.\u201dhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-fraud-2020-election-republicans_n_5fa5b2b4c5b6f21920db3763\u00a0\u2026— Jennifer Bendery (@Jennifer Bendery) 1620840461
"I spoke with a GOP County chair in PA today who said Trump won the state twice," Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tamari tweeted.
I spoke with a GOP County chair in PA today who said Trump won the state twicehttps://twitter.com/mviser/status/1392523863754412040\u00a0\u2026— Jonathan Tamari (@Jonathan Tamari) 1620838744
https://twitter.com/mviser/status/1392523863754412040\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/NF6sBewUKs— Nathan Gonzales (@Nathan Gonzales) 1620838775
Kevin McCarthy lied about the Big Lie.\n\nDoes he understand how recorded audio and video work?— Chris Hahn (@Chris Hahn) 1620839993
Has he seen the statements from the former president.— Recovering Adrenochrome Fiend (@Recovering Adrenochrome Fiend) 1620838949
Ummm... @GOPLeader ... (I mean "leader")pic.twitter.com/nYHZPtdqAq— Jenny \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jenny \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1620840732
Dispatch editor and Fox News contributor Stephen Hayes even highlighted former President Donald Trump's remarks made on Monday, May 10. At the time, Trump again made claims of massive voter fraud as he urged Republicans to "unify" and not allow election fraud again.
"The number of votes is MASSIVE and determinative," the Twitter user said. This will prove true in numerous other States. All Republicans must UNIFY and not let this happen...The Fake News media refuses to cover the greatest Election Fraud in the history of our country."
Shameless. \n\nTrump, on Monday: "The number of votes is MASSIVE and determinative. This will prove true in numerous other States. All Republicans must UNIFY and not let this happen...The Fake News media refuses to cover the greatest Election Fraud in the history of our Country."https://twitter.com/mviser/status/1392523863754412040\u00a0\u2026— Stephen Hayes (@Stephen Hayes) 1620838832
CNBC White House correspondent Christina Wilkie also echoed similar sentiments
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone is questioning the legitimacy of the president\u2019s election. That is all over," says Minority Leader McCarthy.\n\nIt wasn't over a few hours ago in his conference. Or last night in DJT's statements.— Christina Wilkie (@Christina Wilkie) 1620838730
