CNN’s Jim Acosta is pressing Republican lawmakers on their continued support for former President Donald Trump.
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) was asked by Acosta, “What are your thoughts on associating yourself with the former president after he gave that speech on January 6 and provoked an insurrection at the Capitol? Why associate yourself with him?”
Cawthorn replied saying he “completely” disagrees “with that assertion.” He continued, “The premise is that he invoked an insurrection. I don’t believe that’s what happened whatsoever. I think he spoke at a rally.”
“I think what happened on January 6 was despicable, and people should be prosecuted that broke the law,” the Republican lawmaker added. “I generally don’t believe there was any provocation from anybody that spoke that day.”
Acosta continued to press, “But he had been telling the big lie for weeks and continues to lie about the election. … Why not find another standard-bearer for the party? Maybe you could be a standard-bearer for the party down the road.”
“I do look forward to being the future of the Republican Party, but I will tell you I think Donald Trump is leading the way on that,” Cawthorn responded. “You and I know that we have a complete disagreement. I do believe the election was stolen.”
Pressed on “where” the proof is that the “election was stolen” and that “it was all rejected by the courts,” Cawthorn said, “I believe the judicial system failed us.”
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Additionally, Acosta questioned Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), “Why continue to associate yourself with the former president after he lied about the election, there was an insurrection on January 6?”
Banks called Trump “the most effective president in my lifetime.”
At the start of his segment, Acosta played a video clip of a moment when he asked Trump while at the U.S.-Mexico border, “Will you apologize about January 6th?”
The crowd booed at Acosta’s question and Trump did not respond. Acosta noted that those who booed were Republican members and their staffers.