House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was asked Wednesday whether he was concerned about elevating Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to GOP leadership after she has promoted baseless claims about the election. He responded: "I don't think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election."
Why it matters: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) was ousted as House GOP conference chair earlier Wednesday — in a vote that McCarthy supported — over her continued criticisms of former President Trump and his lies about election fraud.
Driving the news: Just 48 hours earlier, Trump said in a statement, "The major Michigan Election Fraud case has just filed a bombshell pleading claiming votes were intentionally switched from President Trump to Joe Biden."
- "The number of votes is MASSIVE and determinative," the former president falsely claimed. "This will prove true in numerous other States. All Republicans must UNIFY and not let this happen."
- Stefanik, a Trump ally who is the only candidate running to replace Cheney, objected to the certification of Biden's Electoral College win and continues to believe that there are "serious concerns about the election that have not been addressed," a spokesperson told the Washington Post.
Reality check: Trump's own Justice Department has said there is no evidence of substantial election fraud that would overturn the results of the election. Dozens of courts throughout the country have tossed out election fraud lawsuits backed by Trump and his allies.
Driving the news: “First of all the conference will decide," McCarthy said when asked about Stefanik. "But I don’t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election. I think that is all over with. We’re sitting here with the president today. So from that point of view, I don't think that's a problem."
