Hoyer calls McCarthy a ‘coward’

As tensions grew just a day before funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) called House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) a “coward.”

McCarthy halted floor proceedings Thursday night to announce that the House is expected to finish its work for the week by Friday evening. The House plans to vote on a three-week short-term DHS funding bill to avoid a shutdown at midnight Friday.

{mosads}In a colloquy with McCarthy, Hoyer pressed for details on the stopgap bill and argued that Republicans have been “leaving the Department of Homeland Security twisting in the wind.” That comment elicited boos from the GOP side of the House chamber.

McCarthy pointed to the House vote last month on a DHS funding bill with language to revoke President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

“This House has taken action to make sure that DHS is fully funded,” McCarthy said.

Hoyer appeared to let his feelings slip too close to the microphone.

“You’re a coward,” Hoyer can be heard saying.

Hoyer told CNN afterward he had apologized to McCarthy.

“He’s not a coward. I just apologized to him,” Hoyer said as he walked off the House floor. 

He said he was angry about his mic being cut off when he was asking questions about the DHS bill, CNN reported.

“I said something I shouldn’t have said,” Hoyer added.

Hoyer said McCarthy accepted his apology and told him “it was unfortunate.”