Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) says a letter from his family members slamming him that came to light shows the real “division” over views.
Kinzinger was sent a scorching letter from 11 family members blasting him over his support to remove former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. They said he was working with “the devil’s army.”
Kinzinger said during Monday night’s interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, “I’m glad the letter came out because I think that people need to see — if you haven’t experienced that division in your family, this is the best example of it.”
He added, “So look, I hold nothing against them. I mean, maybe someday I’ll have to look back… but I don’t feel it right now. I just have no desire really to reach out and repair it, that’s up to them.”
Watch Kinzinger’s interview below:
"I don't understand why we can't say such a basic thing which is that Joe Biden is the President," says Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger. "Look. We lost. Donald Trump lost and instead of complaining about that, we need to figure out why, and try to get more votes… next time." pic.twitter.com/NVyUE2beOx
— CNN (@CNN) February 23, 2021
In a handwritten two-page letter, 11 family members of Kinzinger wrote, “Oh my, what a disappointment you are to us and to God!” The New York Times first reported on the letter.
“It is now most embarrassing to us that we are related to you,” the letter read. “You have embarrassed the Kinzinger family name!”
Kinzinger became the first Republican to support removing Trump after protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol in early January. He was also one of the few Republicans to impeach Trump in the House of Representatives on the charge of inciting an insurrection.
The Republican lawmaker also said during his interview with Cuomo, “If you think the Donald Trump thing in the long term is going to be the winning coalition and not somebody like me that’s conservative but doesn’t offend people, and doesn’t go out and attack and say that you owe me everything, and doesn’t incite insurrections — then we’ll be a minority party forever.”