Speaker McCarthy Defends Trump Over Jan. 6: ‘What Criminal Activity Did He Do?’

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the media during a briefing in National Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington on July 17, 2023. Alex Wong/Getty Images

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday he doesn’t see how former President Donald Trump could be found criminally responsible for the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.

“I don’t see how he could be found criminally responsible,” Mr. McCarthy said. “What criminal activity did he do? He told people to be peaceful.”