Republican strategist Steve Schmidt criticized Kevin McCarthy for his stance on Russia collusion, adding that the House majority leader "disqualified himself" to become the next Speaker of the House.
Schmidt made the comment Sunday night during an interview on MSNBC's "Kasie DC" show, reacting to comments McCarthy, R-Calif., made earlier in the day about alleged collusion between Russia and the 2016 campaign of President Donald Trump.
"It gives me no pleasure to say this. I've known Kevin McCarthy for a long time and I consider him a friend but he disqualified himself for the speakership of the House," Schmidt told MSNBC host Kasie Hunt.
"At the end of the day, if one of the parties wants to make a monkey the majority leader, I'm pretty indifferent to it. But the speaker is a constitutional officer, third in line to the office of president of the United States," Schmidt said.
McCarthy asserted Sunday that "there has been no collusion" between Trump associated and Russia, incurring the wrath of Schmidt.
"What you saw was a partisan there, somebody who would do anything, complete servility to the leader, to Donald Trump, above the American constitution, above the system of checks and balances, above the rule of law," Schmidt said.
"It's disgraceful to watch it."
Schmidt cited the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York City between Trump family members and a delegation from Russia that used the hook of dirt into Hillary Clinton as a means to get the meeting with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and others.
Schmidt said there was only "One appropriate response" to a request of a meeting with Russians: Call the FBI.
"And to see Kevin McCarthy up there being complicit in the lying, I'm troubled about it," Schmidt said. "Stuttering around on this collusion issue is shameful."
McCarthy seems to be the heir apparent to Speaker Paul Ryan when he retires early next year, though no official decisions or votes will take place until after November's midterms.
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