GOP lawmaker refers to Fox News host who called for defeat: ‘Outrage for Profit’

Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger hit back at Fox News’ Mark Levin on New Years Eve after the host called for his defeat in the upcoming GOP primary.

In a series of tweets Thursday, Levin called Kinzinger a “very devious and reckless politician” and called on Republican voters to oust him in the next election cycle.

“He was elected as a candidate for the Tea Party 10 years ago and quickly turned against them. He is now an activist for the administrative state and against the constitutionalists,” said the host. “He should be beaten at the polls in the next Republican primary.”

Kinzinger quickly responded by calling Levin “The Godfather of” outrage for profit “” that has “for some reason been obsessed with me for a while.”

“I guess I hit a nerve. Don’t flatter yourself, Hollywood,” Levin retorted. “And don’t worry about my finances. I’m paying your overpayment. Just do your fucking job.”

Kinzinger concluded the dispute online by sharing an April 2016 headline that showed Levin saying, “I would never vote for Trump.” The Illinois lawmaker called the Fox News host’s statement “pre-grift.”

Levin initially targeted Kinzinger for publicly criticizing President Donald Trump and his allies for their efforts to oppose the Electoral College’s certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

“Unsurprisingly, he is celebrated by the Democratic Party media,” Levin tweeted. “His attack on those who are seriously trying to fix what the Democrats have broken during this electoral cycle, and their efforts to prevent further usurpations of the Constitution (as they have announced their intentions), is unacceptable.”

Kinzinger predicted on Wednesday that more than 100 Republican Party members could come forward to challenge Congressional certification of electoral votes on Jan.6. “I hope I am wrong,” Kinzinger said on Bulwark podcast. “I guess it could be over 100.”

A day later, Kinzinger shared a video on YouTube debunking Trump’s unverified allegations of widespread electoral fraud, which he says caused his electoral loss to Biden, and discussing the prevalence of political conspiracy theories in America.

“The president does not want to admit defeat and no one would, but he is currently trying to discredit the election results with lies and plots,” Kinzinger said. “As the person responsible for leading, I have a choice. I can be quiet and I can survive taking the easy path or I can talk and lead without worrying about the consequences. I choose to lead without fear.

Lawmaker, one of the president’s most vocal critics in the GOP, has said Trump’s attempts to overturn the election “won’t work,” while predicting the president “will never admit that he has lost, so he’ll always blame someone else. “

All 50 US states have now certified their electoral votes. Biden got 306 electoral college votes, exceeding the 270 needed to win the presidential election.

Newsweek contacted Fox News for comment.