“I asked him specifically for a commitment to denounce that publicly. And he said that he would address it at a personal level, with some of those members. But again, I think that as a leader of the House Republican, or I’m sorry, as the leader of the House Republican Party, it’s important to hear those denouncements publicly,” he said.
Asked how McCarthy responded when he brought up the FBI conspiracy theory, Fanone said: “I don’t remember if he had a specific response to that or not. He’s a good politician.”
With regard to the House select committee to investigate the attack that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced will be established, Fanone said he asked McCarthy “for a commitment not to put obstructionists and the wrong people in that position.”
Dunn and Fanone both said that McCarthy “committed to taking it seriously.”
McCarthy did not commit to not put GOP members who are spreading conspiracies or minimizing January 6 onto the House select committee when asked at his weekly news conference earlier on Friday, however. “I haven’t seen the structure,” the California Republican said, adding, “so I won’t make any commitment ’til I go there.”
At the same press conference, McCarthy sidestepped when asked about conspiracies about January 6 promoted by some House Republicans and whether any have been sternly lectured about their behavior. “What I talk to my members is what I talk to my members personally about,” he said.
When Fanone walked out of the meeting, the first thing he said was, “I need a drink.” Asked later why he said that, Fanone said: “This is not something I enjoy doing … But I see this as an extension of my service on January 6.”
He said he would like other officers to come forward with their accounts of January 6. “I’m actually tired of hearing my own voice, with regard to this. I would like some other officers to come forward. I mean, that’s really been one of my main objectives here is to give all the officers a voice or an opportunity to, you know, let their voice be heard with regard to their experience on January 6th. “
“In a lot of ways, this experience has been incredibly isolating,” he said.
McCarthy said Friday ahead of his meeting with Fanone that he has “no problem talking to anybody about” his conversation with Trump on January 6 when asked by CNN if he would speak to the committee about the call.
Fanone suffered a heart attack and a concussion during the insurrection and is dealing with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Friday.
CNN’s Ryan Nobles, Kristin Wilson, Morgan Rimmer, Devan Cole, Jeremy Herb and Paul Leblanc contributed to this report.
Source : CNN
