Hakeem Jeffries: I never told Kevin McCarthy 'there's nothing in the bill' for Democrats

United States House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) claimed on Sunday that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) threw cold water on the agreement that he struck with President Joe Biden to increase the Treasury Department's debt ceiling and avert a default.
Jeffries, however, refuted McCarthy's recollection during an appearance on Face the Nation.
READ MORE: 'You’ve failed us': Conservatives clobber Kevin McCarthy for cooperating with President Joe Biden
"Speaker McCarthy predicted this morning, he can get a majority of Republicans. He says some Democrats he thinks will vote for it. But he also quoted something he says you told him. Listen," CBS moderator Margaret Brennan recalled as footage rolled of McCarthy.
"I think there's gonna be a lot of Democrats that go vote for it too. Right now, the Democrats are very upset. The one thing Hakeem told me; there's nothing in the bill for them. There's not one thing in the bill for Democrats," McCarthy asserted on Fox News.
"Did you say that? And how do you convince Democrats?" Brennan asked.
"I have no idea what he is talking about, particularly because I have not been able to review the actual legislative texts. All that we've reached is an agreement in principle. Now what I've consistently said..." Jeffries replied.
READ MORE: 'A fantastic deal': House Republican dismisses 'colorful conservatives’' debt ceiling 'concerns'
Brennan cut him off to repeat the question.
"Did you even talk to him?" she reiterated.
"Both, privately. I talked to him yesterday afternoon," Jeffries responded. "I haven't talked to him since that point in time."
Watch below or at this link.
\u201c"I have no idea what he's talking about" -- Hakeem Jeffries on CBS says Kevin McCarthy put words in his mouth\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1685285334
READ MORE: 'Crazy cuckoo MAGA people' could sink debt ceiling deal: Democratic strategist
- Janet Yellen gives hard deadline for GOP to end economic hostage situation ›
- Kevin McCarthy's 'toughest' days as House speaker may lie ahead: report ›
- Dem lawmakers roll out plan to circumvent McCarthy on the debt ceiling ›
- McCarthy takes aim at FBI director with threat to charge him with contempt over Biden family probe - Alternet.org ›
- Far-right lawmakers float overthrowing Kevin McCarthy over debt ceiling negotiations - Alternet.org ›
- Hakeem Jeffries: Republicans will 'abandon democracy' when they 'can no longer win elections' - Alternet.org ›