By Haley Talbot and Teaganne Finn -
NBC News
The minority leader of the House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy, refused on Wednesday night to hand over the information on the assault on the Capitol that had been requested by the Congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.
"This committee is not conducting a legitimate investigation after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the unprecedented step of rejecting the Republican members I appointed to serve on the committee," McCarthy said in a statement.
The Republican leader for California called the attempt by the Democrats in Congress to obtain their conversations with Trump related to the attack as
"an abuse of power that today tarnishes the institution."
Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Select Committee, D-Mississippi, said in a letter Wednesday that he wanted to hear about the discussions McCarthy had with Trump and White House staff in the days following the violence.
In April, McCarthy told Fox News that he
had a phone conversation with Trump
while the attack was unfolding.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks during his weekly press conference at the United States Capitol on February 27, 2020 in Washington. Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Thompson also hinted Wednesday that McCarthy may have information about Trump's state of mind and decisions in the aftermath of the riots.
"It appears that he may also have had a discussion with President Trump about the possibility that he faces a
censure, impeachment or impeachment
resolution under the 25th Amendment," Thompson wrote in the letter.
"He may also have identified other possible options, including the immediate resignation of President Trump from office," he added.
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Trump was indicted in January 2021 for "
inciting insurrection
" in a vote of 232 to 197, in which 10 Republicans joined Democrats.
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The commission asked two other lawmakers for information: Republican Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
McCarthy is the highest-ranking Republican in Congress the commission is seeking.
In conversation with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Thompson had said he expected McCarthy to voluntarily cooperate with the committee, although he did not rule out
a possible subpoena.
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"I think it is important when the leader of the House of Representatives takes the floor and criticizes the incumbent president for what happened. That is significant and that is why we voluntarily asked him to come and speak to the commission," Thompson said.
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Days after January 6, 2021, McCarthy said in a speech in the House of Representatives that
Trump "bears responsibility"
for the "attack on Congress by the insurgent mob."
McCarthy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from our sister network NBC News.
In May, when McCarthy was asked if he would be willing to testify about his conversations with Trump on January 6, he replied,
"Of course he is."