(Video: ABC)
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie locked horns with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl after he attempted to defend House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Commenting on a recently leaked audio recording of McCarthy’s comments about then-President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, Christie contended that McCarthy’s words on Trump potentially resigning were not being presented accurately by the media.
In the recording, McCarthy can be heard speaking with his GOP colleagues on Jan. 10, appearing to say he would urge Trump to resign, something the California Republican has denied.
But Karl argued otherwise, pushing back against Christie during the segment on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
“I have to say, with all due respect, Governor Christie, I don’t think you’re characterizing what was on that tape accurately,” Karl said. “There’s no way to listen to that tape and to think that Kevin McCarthy told the truth. That tape, you hear Kevin McCarthy saying I’ve had it with that guy, referring to Donald Trump.”
“You hear Kevin McCarthy say he’s going to call Donald Trump and his recommendation would be that he resign,” he added.
“That’s not what he said,” Christie interrupted, arguing that what Karl was saying was not true.
‘Do some Republicans have knives out for you?’ Reporter grills Kevin McCarthy on leaked audio https://t.co/8LpElNZwaC pic.twitter.com/y5oSML5Wo8
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“He didn’t say what you said,” Karl argued back as the two sparred and spoke over one another.
“Yes he did,” the former governor insisted. “He said was if the Senate has the votes to convict…”
“That’s not a quote!” Karl exclaimed. “That’s not a quote from the tape.”
“That’s what the conversation was,” Christie shot back before going on to shred Karl’s entire argument because voters don’t really care about the issue.
“Look, you know who cares about this?” he asked.
“You know, maybe five people in Washington, D.C. The voters across the country could care less about this. This is the rearview mirror stuff that the American people don’t care about when they’re paying $5 a gallon for gas, when they’ve got 8.5 percent inflation and can’t buy their groceries and when there is crime all over the streets in our major cities. They just don’t care, John. And that’s why the story doesn’t get any traction outside Washington, D.C.,” he said.
But Karl pushed back, saying the recording poses a “credibility issue” for McCarthy, who is thought to be a top contender to become speaker of the House if Republicans take back control of the chamber in November’s elections.
“Every quote in that original story is backed up by the tapes. Every single quote,” Karl insisted.
“McCarthy has come to the world and said it was all fake news, it’s not true,” he added. “Maybe you think that doesn’t matter. Maybe it doesn’t matter politically but there is a question of credibility. The denial was not accurate. The denial was, in fact, a lie.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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