We need definitive answers from McCarthy, not just hopes and dreams.
On Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed his support for expunging former President Donald Trump’s two impeachments. However, he denied the existence of a reported secret deal to make this happen. McCarthy stated that he has consistently opposed the impeachments, believing they were driven by purely political motives.
The Politico report earlier in the day claimed that McCarthy had assured Trump that the House would vote on expunging the impeachments. This alleged promise came after McCarthy’s remarks in June, where he suggested that Trump might not be the best presidential nominee for the GOP in 2024, leading to some tension with the former president.
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced a resolution in late June to clear Trump of the impeachment charges. However, during a recent House leadership meeting, moderate Republicans voiced concerns about an expungement vote, fearing that it could jeopardize GOP incumbents seeking re-election in districts won by President Biden.
The outcome of an expungement vote remains uncertain, particularly because two sitting Republicans, Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington and David Valadao of California, had previously voted to impeach Trump. Some Republicans worry that a failed vote could expose party divisions and potentially embarrass Trump in the media.
One unnamed senior Republican emphasized their support for Trump but cautioned against the strategic risk of a failed expungement vote. The concern lies in the potential negative portrayal of the party’s unity if the vote were to be unsuccessful, akin to facing a third impeachment situation.