Kevin McCarthy battles severely in Fox News interview over spilled Trump tape

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy escaped the wrath of former President Donald Trump after the California Republican was caught on vid stating he planned to ask Trump to abdicate following theJan. 6 screams — but that does not mean the saga is over for him yet. On Monday, McCarthy visited the southern border with other Democratic lawgivers, and did a brief interview with Fox News public pressman Bill Melugin. Melugin asked McCarthy about the blurted vid, as well as the legislator's assertion that reporting done by New York Times political reporters was" completely false." "I noway told the chairman to abdicate, it was a discussion that we had about scripts going forward,"McCarthy said."But that is not really critical. What is passing is what is passing on this border right now." The New York Times noway reported that McCarthy directly told Trump to abdicate, but that McCarthy failed to follow through on" tough talk"in" private exchanges."The denial that McCarthy's platoon firstly handed to the Times was"McCarthy noway said he ’d call Trump to say he should abdicate,"which is directly refuted by what McCarthy said on the blurted call. "It would be my recommendation you should abdicate,"McCarthy said of his planned discussion with Trump."I mean, that would be my take. But I do not suppose he'd take it. But I do not know." After McCarthy veered and rather bandied issues at the southern border, Melugin hit McCarthy with a follow-up. " Regarding that audio vid, you had said the New York Times'reporting on it was'false'and' wrong,'"Melugin said." Also the vid came out. Did you lie?"