Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) (Screenshot)
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) accused House leadership of a cover-up by trying to shield members from the political ramifications of people finding out how they each voted on the $2.2 trillion House coronavirus relief bill or CARES Act, which stands for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
“They wouldn’t even give me a minute to speak in a four-hour debate. There’s a big cover-up in there,” Massie said, speaking to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol.
“They’re trying to cover-up their votes. They had enough people there to pass the bill, but they still refused to have a recorded vote, and they told me they were trying to protect members,” he said.
“They’re trying to protect the members who are there from political ramifications,” the congressman said.
Massie intended to call for a recorded vote, which requires at least half of all sitting House members to participate, despite warnings against doing so by both Republican and Democratic leaders and the White House.
“Like I said in there, I came here this week to make sure our republic doesn’t die in an empty chamber by unanimous consent. These people need to do their jobs. If they’re telling people to drive a truck, if they’re telling people to bag groceries and grow their food, then by golly, they can be in there, and they can vote, and that’s what we did this week,” Massie said.
“They came, and you can see it didn’t delay the vote any. They sat on their cans yesterday here. They didn’t do a thing yesterday. They were trying to say this would delay it to have a recorded vote. The truth, if you’re willing to report it, is they don’t want a recorded vote. They don’t want to be on record of making the biggest mistake in history,” he said.
When asked who told him they were protecting House members, Massie said it was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Pelosi and McCarthy when I was right there with them,” he said.
President Donald Trump called Massie “a third rate Grandstander” who just wants publicity, and he called for the congressman to be thrown out of the Republican Party.
(Screenshot)
“Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @RepThomasMassie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress. He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay, which is both dangerous & costly,” he tweeted Friday.
(Screenshot)
“Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is ‘HELL’ dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the ‘big picture’ done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!” Trump tweeted.
When asked for a comment on Trump calling him “a 3rd rate grandstander,” Massie said, “I”m at least 2nd rate.”
Meanwhile, former Secretary of State John Kerry said that he and Trump are on the same page for a change, specifically when it comes to Massie.
“Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He’s given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!)” Kerry tweeted.
(Screenshot)
