GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw apologizes for branding the 20 McCarthy holdouts as ... trends now
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Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw apologized Sunday for branding the 20 conservatives who almost derailed Kevin McCarthy's Speakership bid as 'terrorists.'
Crenshaw, a military veteran and a top Republican on the Homeland Security committee, was among the most vocal members of his party to vent their frustrations as the battle for who will lead their thin House majority stretched across four grueling days.
In addition to calling them 'terrorists' Crenshaw had also labeled the 20 holdouts - who all eventually either voted for McCarthy or voted 'present' - 'charlatans' and 'enemies.'
But he walked those comments back during an appearance on CNN's State of The Union program - though the lawmaker admitted to being 'taken aback' by the 'sensitivity' of his colleagues who got offended at his criticism.
'To the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them. I don't want them to think I actually believe they're terrorists. It's clearly a turn of phrase that you use in what is an intransigent negotiation,' Crenshaw said.
Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw walked back his criticism of the conservatives who prolonged the House Speakership battle during an interview with CNN on Sunday
The 15 rounds of voting put inter-party divides within the GOP on full display, raising concerns about how McCarthy could keep enough control over his thin majority to keep Congress functioning.
Tense scenes played out across the House floor across four days while McCarthy allies were pleading with holdouts to vote with the other 200-plus members of their conference.
Crenshaw had told CNN's Manu Raju on Wednesday that the Republican holdouts 'made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican one.' Meanwhile another pro-McCarthy lawmaker branded
