McCarthy: Democrats 'Condoned' Waters, Weakened House, DOJ

House Democrats had the opportunity to condemn Rep. Maxine Waters' "violent rhetoric" through censuring her, but instead, they condoned her call to activists for "more confrontation" if the jury in the Derek Chauvin case had come back with a verdict of not guilty, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday. 

"Every Democrat, including Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi had the opportunity to condemn this violent rhetoric. Instead, they condoned it, which only makes the House of Representatives and the Justice Department weaker," the California Republican said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." 

Waters, D-Calif., after Democrats rejected a call to censure her, commented that Republicans often make a "target" of her and that her comments came because she is "passionate" on the case of racism. 

But McCarthy rejected Waters' argument, saying that there was nothing political about the move to censure her. He added that she's made similar calls for violence, including against officials with former President Donald Trump's administration. 

"She travels to a place that is not in her district right before a jury is going to hear the final verdict, and what does she do? She brings violence," said McCarthy. "The judge himself said it was abhorrent."

The verdict itself, however, showed that the justice system worked. 

"What happened to George Floyd should never happen to anyone," said McCarthy. "He was killed. He was murdered. And the justice system worked yesterday."

But because of Waters' statements, an appeal could take place and "disrupt our justice system" when there is an opportunity to heal some wounds, said McCarthy. 

"That type of rhetoric does not help, and condoning does not help the system work, either," said McCarthy. 

He pointed out that the censure document, which he wrote, did not contain his own words but those of Chauvin trial Judge Peter Cahill, who warned that Waters' comments could eventually be used to appeal his conviction. 

"This wasn't a political situation," said McCarthy. "This was an opportunity to bring the nation together. This was an opportunity to call what was right and what was wrong, to help us heal and make sure the system works and continues to work for all Americans."

Meanwhile, said he believes there is an opportunity for a police reform bill that Republicans will also approve, pointing to legislation presented last year by Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

"Unfortunately, the Democrats, led at that time by (then) Sen. Kamala Harris, they filibustered it, not even to let it come up for debate," said McCarthy. "I think there is an opportunity. There is a group of us that have been working and believe at the end of the day we can come to a point that all of us can agree to make it better."

The House Democrats who would not censure Waters, however, must "go home and answer for their vote," said McCarthy.

"It was an easy vote to have censure," he added. "I think almost all Americans would agree, not just with my words because there were none of my words in that resolution. All I did was quote the judge...what if he wins on an appeal because she went to Minnesota and told people to (have) violence? America itself would be in an uproar. "

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