Kinzinger says ‘Nothing surprises me anymore’ after RNC censures him

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on Thursday that “nothing surprises me anymore” after the Republican National Committee (RNC) last week voted to censure him and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for their past criticism of former President Trump and their service on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.

The Illinois Republican was asked on “The View” if he was surprised that Republican colleagues supported the RNC’s decision to censure him.

“No, I mean, nothing surprises me anymore. I’m saddened, of course. Not because I got censured, and somehow that hurts my feelings. This is probably around a baker’s dozen of censures from some form or the other just because I want to stand for truth,” he replied.

He noted that since the RNC’s censure, some Republicans had spoken out about the move against him and Cheney, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

“First off, on the good side, yes, Mitch McConnell has spoken out. I think you’re starting to see fissures, people saying this is going too far,” Kinzinger said. 

“But you know, a once great party, a party that stood for something – stood for principles, whether you agree with those principles or not, is now a party that stands for loyalty to one man. That was clear in the RNC’s censure. That’s what makes me sad more than anything,” he added.

Both Cheney and Kinzinger defended themselves last week as the RNC signaled its intent to censure both of them. 

The RNC has since come under fire from some Republicans, including McConnell, over language the resolution used to characterize the Capitol riot, which it appeared to deem “legitimate political discourse.”

“It was a violent insurrection with the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election. … That’s what it was,” McConnell said on Tuesday, commenting on the RNC censure.

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has several times sought to clarify the resolution’s language, including during a Wednesday Fox News appearance in which she said that “legitimate political discourse never includes violence.”