Power is intoxicating, its pursuit revealing of character but sometimes debilitating; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is Exhibit A. In his ceaseless drive to become the next speaker of the House, he has demonstrated weakness, hypocrisy and a willingness to lie to save his skin.
Democracy Dies in Darkness
Kevin McCarthy and the intoxication of power
Caught in a lie after denying that he talked about urging Trump to resign after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the GOP House leader seeks the former president’s forgiveness to keep his speakership hopes alive.
Analysis by Dan Balz
April 23, 2022 at 10:56 a.m. EDT