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VANCOUVER, Washington (AP) – A Washington State Republican, who was one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump on Friday night, urged those familiar with the conversations that Trump had had during the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill to come forward.
Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler said in a statement that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told him he spoke to Trump as rioters attacked Capitol Hill. She said McCarthy called on Trump to “end the riot” and told Trump that the violent mob were Trump supporters, not far-left anti-fa members.
In her statement, posted via Twitter, Herrera Beutler said: “This is when, according to McCarthy, the president said: ‘Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset than you by the ‘election.’ ‘
The MP’s disclosure comes as the US Senate conducts Trump’s impeachment trial, which is set to resume on Saturday. Trump’s defense team on Friday denied inciting the deadly riot and said he was encouraging his supporters to “fight like hell” when a rally that preceded it was a political speech by routine.
Members of the US House who are acting as prosecutors in the impeachment say Trump was the “chief instigator” who spread election lies and then encouraged supporters to come and challenge the results.
Herrera Buetler, who represents Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in the southwestern state, said she previously relayed part of her conversation with McCarthy to voters and local media.
She then called on those familiar with Trump’s conversation with McCarthy to speak out.
“And to the patriots who were standing next to the former president during these conversations, or even the former vice president: if you have anything to add here, now is the time,” she said.
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This story has been updated to correct the fact that Herrera Beutler represents Washington’s 3rd Congressional District.
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