Some of the people who received preemptive pardons from President Joe Biden have previously condemned the idea of President Donald Trump issuing such pardons.
On Monday, Biden preemptively pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
Kinzinger and Schiff have both claimed in the past that accepting a presidential pardon would amount to an admission of guilt, but both have been quiet after receiving their own preemptive pardons.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqndn5W5hXuxOh4Dnzj3NrHSVayyLGsEShWj2n2EVNnohFOnXKd"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-861893 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/image.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/image.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/image-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/image-768x293.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Just two weeks ago, Kinzinger said on CNN that he didn’t want a pardon because “the second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.”
“I’m guilty of nothing besides bringing the truth to the American people and, in the process, embarrassing Donald Trump,” Kinzinger continued.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨Now-pardoned Adam Kinzinger said he didn’t want one two weeks ago:
“The second you take a pardon, it looks like you&#8217;re guilty of something.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/LVqqD7vAnZ">pic.twitter.com/LVqqD7vAnZ</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1881327219026583947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kinzinger said something similar in a social media post on June 23, 2022.
“Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath &amp; requested pardons from the Trump Administration,” Kinzinger wrote on X. “More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As Members, we take an oath to support &amp; defend the Constitution. Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath &amp; requested pardons from the Trump Administration.
More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime. <a href="https://t.co/BLKWo5XpUD">pic.twitter.com/BLKWo5XpUD</a>
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepKinzinger/status/1540084543339773953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Schiff also denounced presidential pardons on July 23, 2020, after Trump pardoned his former political consultant, Roger Stone. In that case, Stone had been investigated, tried, and convicted when Trump pardoned him. Biden’s pardons preempt any investigation or trial.
“The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it&#8217;s deserved,” Schiff posted on X. “Or, if you&#8217;re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct. We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it&#8217;s deserved.
Or, if you&#8217;re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct.
We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will. <a href="https://t.co/MBYumpnT1D">https://t.co/MBYumpnT1D</a>
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchiff/status/1286376082946404352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fauci thanked Biden for the pardon but claimed he committed no crime – without saying he would reject it.
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&#8220;I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf,” Fauci told ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl. “Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dr. Anthony Fauci tells me he appreciates the pardon, but he committed no crime:
&#8220;I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf. Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for…
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/1881330141965467778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Biden has now preemptively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-biden-pardons-hunter-claims-son-was-singled-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pardoned</a> his son, Hunter, his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-biden-issues-more-pardons-for-his-family-during-final-minutes-of-presidency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brothers and sister</a> and their spouses, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-issues-last-minute-pardons-for-fauci-mark-milley-and-jan-6-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political allies</a> who investigated Trump. The pardons come years after Biden himself suggested such pardons were something he would never grant.
“Now in terms of the pardons, you’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons,” Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flashback-biden-warns-against-preemptive-pardons-in-2020-cnn-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN in 2020. “Nor are you going to see in our administration the approach to making policy by tweets. You know, it’s going to be a totally different way to which we approach the justice system.”

House January 6 Committee

Here’s What People Who Received Biden Pardons Have Said About Them In The Past

Here's What People Who Received Biden Pardons Have Said About Them In The Past

Adam Kinzinger

Adam Schiff

Executive

Joe Biden

Pardon

Politics

Former Illinois Republican Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/adam-kinzinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Kinzinger</a> appeared in support of Vice President Kamala at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, claiming voting for her would be in support of America’s “bedrock values.”
Kinzinger, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/adam-kinzinger-says-hell-back-far-left-dems-over-anti-democracy-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously vowed</a> to support far-Left Democrats if he believed their Republican opponents were “anti-democracy,” claimed that Democrats “are as patriotic” during his speech in support of Harris, who was labeled as the most liberal senator during her time in the Senate.
“I am proud to be in the trenches with you as part of this sometimes awkward alliance that we have to defend truth, defend democracy, and decency,” he said. “I was a Republican for 12 years in Congress and I still hold onto the label. I never thought I&#8217;d be here, but listen, you’d never thought you&#8217;d see me here, did you.”
He said that Democrats “love this country just as much as we do. And they are as eager to defend American values at home and abroad as we conservatives have ever been.”
The former Republican representative also claimed that the Republican Party is “no longer conservative” while claiming that Harris shares his devotion to the Constitution, rule of law, and democracy.
Much of his speech focused on talking about democracy in religious terms, claiming that it “knows no party” and is a “living, breathing ideal.” He said that the January 6 riot was a “desecration of our sacred tradition.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1724211156439000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-L2DitSaIUj5wz8v0bgxx">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
He also attacked former President Donald Trump, claiming that he was a “weak man pretending to be strong.”
Harris has been seen as one of the most far-Left candidates to ever run for president, from her close association with Planned Parenthood to her positions on illegal immigration and fracking.
Earlier this week, the Republican National Committee paid for the domain <a href="https://kamala2024policies.com/">kamala2024policies.com</a> and created a website listing some of Vice President Kamala Harris’ “dangerously liberal policies.”
“Kamala Harris is weak, failed, and dangerously liberal,” the website <a href="https://kamala2024policies.com/">states</a>. “Not only does Kamala Harris own the weakness, failure, and chaos of the Harris-Biden administration, she is so radical that she makes ‘the Squad’ look like moderates. She wants to abolish our borders, let criminals control our streets, surrender our communities to cartels and a plague of fentanyl, wage war on American energy, and destroy the American Dream.&#8221;

Day Four Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention

Adam Kinzinger Claims He Is Voting For Kamala Because She Supports America’s ‘Bedrock Values’

2024 Election

Chicago

Democratic National Convention

Donald Trump

Elections

Kamala Harris

Marine Corps veteran Joey Jones torched former Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/adam-kinzinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Kinzinger</a> (R-IL) for his efforts to downplay the military service of Republican vice presidential nominee — and Ohio Senator — JD Vance.
The exchange began with a series of reports about Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-one-denigrated-tim-walzs-military-service-more-than-he-did-himself" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz</a> (D-MN) — who was just tapped to be the running mate for the Democratic Party&#8217;s candidate-by-default, Vice President Kamala Harris — and the alleged &#8220;embellishments&#8221; he has made to his own military career over the years.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-did-it-he-dropped-out-vance-blasts-walz-for-ducking-combat-in-iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vance</a>, a Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq as a Public Affairs officer, responded to reports that Walz had abruptly retired in 2005, forfeiting a conditional promotion to command sergeant major, shortly after learning that his unit was scheduled to deploy to Iraq.
&#8220;What really bothers me about Tim Walz, as a Marine who served his country in uniform?” Vance asked rhetorically. “When the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it. … When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq … he dropped out of the Army,&#8221; Vance said.
Kinzinger, an Air Force veteran, downplayed Vance&#8217;s service in an effort to run defense for Walz: &#8220;Ok. JD served honorably, but he wasn’t kicking down doors. He was in public affairs. Which again, is fine and honorable. Tim, after he was eligible for retirement, retired. People do that. If it was a real problem he would have been &#8216;stop lossed&#8217; and prevented from retiring.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ok. JD served honorably, but he wasn’t kicking down doors. He was in public affairs. Which again, is fine and honorable.
Tim, after he was eligible for retirement, retired. People do that.
If it was a real problem he would have been “stop lossed” and prevented from… <a href="https://t.co/EE3EZkKKXj">https://t.co/EE3EZkKKXj</a>
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1821221087293669465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Jones made it clear that he was not impressed, firing back at Kinzinger, &#8220;I sat behind a 50 cal machine gun in Iraq on roads littered with IEDs. I walked around Afghanistan taking IEDs apart by hand. In Iraq and Afghanistan even pencil pushers were vulnerable to rockets and mortars landing on their heads (see Al Asad this week),&#8221; he said. &#8220;A chow hall at that very same base was hit in 2007 just before I got there.&#8221;
&#8220;I lost more than one buddy to friendly fire in Afghanistan from foreign nationals on a secured base. Everyone on a base in Iraq or Afghanistan got combat pay because they were literally surrounded by a capable enemy. Adam is a bona fide s*** bird for even posting this,&#8221; he concluded.
<a href="http://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1722714742764000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1XzmEsRwzti1RFNuISwYgd">WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I sat behind a 50 cal machine gun in Iraq on roads littered with IEDs. I walked around Afghanistan taking IEDs apart by hand.
In iraq and Afghanistan even pencil pushers were vulnerable to rockets and mortars landing on their heads (see Al Asad this week). A chow hall at that… <a href="https://t.co/cxbXXim1FM">https://t.co/cxbXXim1FM</a>
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Johnny_Joey/status/1821289698100473950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

US-VOTE-POLITICS-ELECTION-DEMOCRATS

Marine Veteran Takes Apart ‘Bona Fide S***-Bird’ Adam Kinzinger For Downplaying Vance’s Service

Marine Veteran Takes Apart 'Bona Fide S**t-Bird' Adam Kinzinger For Downplaying Vance's Service

JD Vance

Marines

Military

Tim Walz

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) removed and then reposted a listing on his political action committee website offering signed copies of the official January 6th Committee Report for $100 — which he now says will benefit charity.
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-anti-trump-rep-adam-kinzinger-begins-selling-signed-copies-jan-6-committees-final-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the item was <a href="https://shop.country1st.com/products/adam-kinzinger-january-6th-committee-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed for sale</a> on the Country First website, owned by the Illinois-based PAC that was started by Kinzinger in July of 2021, after which the listing was briefly removed. It was then reposted with a clarification indicating that the proceeds from all sales of that item would go to charitable causes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The listing for Kinzinger-signed copies of the Jan. 6 committee’s final report is now live again, this time stating that “all proceeds will benefit charitable organizations working to uphold and defend democracy in America.”
&mdash; Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealKyleMorris/status/1615449921930289162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The listing for Kinzinger-signed copies of the Jan. 6 committee’s final report is now live again, this time stating that &#8216;all proceeds will benefit charitable organizations working to uphold and defend democracy in America.'&#8221; Fox News political reporter Kyle Morris explained in the update.
The product&#8217;s full description on the Country First website reads as follows: &#8220;This hard-bound copy of the historical record is offered as a limited edition and signed by Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who served on the committee. All proceeds will benefit the US Capitol Police Memorial Fund.&#8221;
Kinzinger exited Congress after serving six terms, declining to seek re-election when his district was gerrymandered out of existence by Illinois Democrats — but he <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/adam-kinzinger-suggests-he-risked-his-seat-to-save-democracy-democrat-gerrymandering-erased-his-district/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly claimed</a> that he had been forced out because he had done the right thing in opposing former President Donald Trump.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rep. Kinzinger: &quot;If I&#39;m going to ask people to be willing to die for this country&#8230;I have to be willing to give up my career for the same cause&#8230;My oath is not to my district, it&#39;s to the Constitution.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gqL26mh530">https://t.co/gqL26mh530</a> <a href="https://t.co/tM6p3BVnYj">pic.twitter.com/tM6p3BVnYj</a>
&mdash; MSNBC (@MSNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1593250751991926791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I remember thinking, if I’m going to ask people to be willing to die for this country — and obviously I’m going to have to take votes on that and I have — I have to be willing to give up my career for the same cause,&#8221; Kinzinger told MSNBC&#8217;s Nicolle Wallace last November. &#8220;My oath is not to my district, it’s to the Constitution.&#8221;
Kinzinger failed to mention that his district <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/videos/illinois-may-be-the-worst-democratic-gerrymander-in-the-country/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had been erased</a> by the new Democrat-drawn district map, which made it mathematically impossible for Republicans to win more than three of Illinois&#8217; 17 districts even though they held five until the new map took effect in 2022.
&#8220;Illinois is the worst gerrymander in the country drawn by Democrats,&#8221; FiveThirtyEight senior elections analyst Nathaniel Rakich wrote.

House Select Committee to Investigate The January 6th Attack On The U.S. Capitol Holds Final Meeting

Anti-Trump Republican Is Selling Autographed Copies Of January 6th Report — For Charity

Congress

January 6 Committee

U.S.

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/friday-afternoon-update-11-25-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Amazon Layoffs
Amazon’s chief executive Andy Jassy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-dismisses-thousands-of-employees-in-bid-to-reduce-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday that the company is going to cut 18,000 jobs. In a blog post, Jassy blamed an “uncertain economy” and rapid hiring over the last few years. Another big tech company, Salesforce, announced it will lay off 10% of its 80,000 employees.
Bankruptcy At Bed Beth And Beyond?
Bed Bath and Beyond is also facing hardship, with the home goods retailer warning investors Thursday that bankruptcy may be in its future. The company <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-bed-bath-beyond-set-to-file-for-bankruptcy-after-announcing-struggles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> its sales were about a third lower than the year before, including the run-up period to Black Friday. The company’s share price also tumbled more than 20% in early trading on Thursday.
McCarthy Gains Momentum In Race For Speaker
House Republican Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthys-speaker-bid-gains-momentum-as-several-republican-holdouts-flip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy’s</a> (R-CA) campaign to become speaker gained momentum Friday as several GOP holdouts flipped and voted for him on the 12th ballot.
Republican members-elect who voted for McCarthy in Friday’s first ballot after opposing him in the first 11 votes this week included: Dan Bishop (NC), Josh Brecheen (OK), Mike Cloud (TX), Andrew Clyde (GA), Byron Donalds (FL), Paul Gosar (AZ), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Mary Miller (IL), Ralph Norman (SC), Andy Ogles (TN), Scott Perry (PA), Chip Roy (TX), and Keith Self (TX).
Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who voted for McCarthy on Tuesday and then “present” on Wednesday and Thursday, went back to voting for McCarthy on Friday.
Tesla Driver Intentionally Tried Kill Passengers, Police Say
Officials <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/authorities-say-driver-intentionally-drove-tesla-over-california-cliff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Tuesday that the driver of a Tesla that went off of a 250-foot cliff in California intentionally drove the car over the edge. Two children and another adult were inside the vehicle. Miraculously, none of the passengers were killed. The driver “has been placed under arrest for attempted murder and child abuse,” according to California Highway Patrol.
California Teenager Makes Emergency Landing, Credits God
A teenager in California flying a plane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/teen-lands-plane-on-california-road-after-engine-fails" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made an emergency landing</a> on Monday when the single-engine aircraft unexpectedly lost power near the San Bernardino National Forest.
&#8220;God helped me through that one,&#8221; he said after the incident.
FTC Proposes Banning Noncompete Clauses
On Thursday, the FTC <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/ftc-wants-to-ban-non-compete-clauses-that-keep-workers-from-changing-jobs-launching-startups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> banning noncompete clauses, which bar former employees of some companies from joining or founding a competing company for a set period after they leave. The FTC claims that these clauses violate a 109-year-old law that bans “unfair methods of competition.”
Kinzinger Goes To CNN
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger is now a senior political commentator on CNN, the news network announced Wednesday evening.
Democratic Rep. Will Be Sworn In On Comic Book
California Democratic Representative-elect Robert Garcia says he will be sworn in “on the U.S. Constitution,” his citizenship certification — and a rare 1939 first edition comic book of Superman on loan from the Library of Congress. Garcia is a lifelong Superman fan who said he identified with the comic book hero as an immigrant.
Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $940 Million
And, the Mega Millions Jackpot is set to reach an estimated $940 million after nobody won the top prize on Tuesday. People typically take the cashout option, which the group announced will be around $483.5 million. The next drawing is this evening at 11:00 p.m. ET.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Friday

Friday Afternoon Update: Amazon Layoffs, Kinzinger To CNN, Speaker Update

Amazon

California

General

Kevin McCarthy

Morning Wire

Podcast

Former Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/adam-kinzinger">Adam Kinzinger</a> joined CNN as a senior political commentator on Wednesday and subsequently faced mockery from critics online.
&#8220;Kinzinger joins CNN with extensive experience in GOP politics, having recently retired from the U.S. House of Representatives after serving six terms representing Illinois’ Sixteenth Congressional District,&#8221; the network said in a statement. &#8220;Kinzinger most recently served on the high-profile House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol as well as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.&#8221;
The network also noted Kinzinger&#8217;s experience serving in the U.S. Air Force in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
&#8220;Kinzinger was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in November 2003 and later awarded his pilot wings,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;He has served in the Air Force Special Operations, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air National Guard. Kinzinger continues to serve his country as a pilot in the Air National Guard, with the current rank of Lieutenant Colonel.&#8221;
&#8220;Happy to join the team @CNN!&#8221; Kinzinger said on Twitter.
Kinzinger and CNN faced a lot of mockery online over the announcement.
&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell if CNN is a dude attracted to crazy women, or a woman attracted to destructive head cases,&#8221; Fox News host Greg Gutfeld said. &#8220;Either way, this is gunna be hilarious!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I can&#39;t tell if CNN is a dude attracted to crazy women, or a woman attracted to destructive head cases. either way, this is gunna be hilarious! <a href="https://t.co/iKz9FY935f">https://t.co/iKz9FY935f</a>
&mdash; GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) <a href="https://twitter.com/greggutfeld/status/1610805324071542784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fox News radio host Jimmy Failla tweeted: &#8220;WOW &#8211; Adam Kinzinger has signed with CNN. He wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to leave the spotlight.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact that Chris Licht&#8217;s CNN has hired liberal wine mom simp Adam Kinzinger as not only a political commentator but senior political commentator is proof that nothing has changed at CNN from Zucker,&#8221; NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck tweeted. &#8220;By and large, CNN still hates a large part of the country.&#8221;
Political commentator Stephen L. Miller tweeted: &#8220;Also, congrats on a new land speed record.&#8221;
&#8220;LOL proving every one of his critics right,&#8221; political strategist Chris Barron tweeted.
Columnist David Marcus tweeted, &#8220;I have no reason to believe that this guy isn’t sincere in his wrong headed ideas, but let’s not kid ourselves, there’s always been a soft landing for Never Trump conservatives. It’s not some great act of courage.&#8221;

Greg Gutfeld Adam Kinzinger

Adam Kinzinger Joins CNN. Greg Gutfeld Zaps Them Both.

Greg Gutfeld

Media

Congressman <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/republican-rep-adam-kinzinger-backs-democrats-in-key-races/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Kinzinger</a> (R-IL) appeared to claim in a Wednesday interview that he had risked — and ultimately gave up — his political career because he stood up and fought against former President <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/been-there-don-that-ny-post-hides-trumps-big-announcement-on-page-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>.
Kinzinger, who announced over the summer that he would not seek re-election in last Tuesday&#8217;s midterms, invoked his time in the military while discussing the issue with former Republican MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace — and argued that if he was going to cast votes that could send soldiers to die, he had to be willing to risk his own career.
WATCH:
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Rep. Kinzinger: &quot;If I&#39;m going to ask people to be willing to die for this country&#8230;I have to be willing to give up my career for the same cause&#8230;My oath is not to my district, it&#39;s to the Constitution.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gqL26mh530">https://t.co/gqL26mh530</a> <a href="https://t.co/tM6p3BVnYj">pic.twitter.com/tM6p3BVnYj</a>
&mdash; MSNBC (@MSNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1593250751991926791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Wallace, who worked in the White House under former President George W. Bush, noted that Trump had crossed her &#8220;red line&#8221; long before he became president in 2016 — and she asked Kinzinger why he believed so many Republicans were still saying he hadn&#8217;t yet crossed theirs.
&#8220;Tribalism,&#8221; Kinzinger said, was the simple answer. &#8220;You know, the second — if one of them says, &#8216;Look, I&#8217;ve had enough of Donald Trump,&#8217; you get kicked out of your tribe. And then I gotta tell you, the other tribe, to the extent it exists, the anti-Trumpers, the Democrats are not going to accept you because, ah, you&#8217;re coming on too late or maybe you still have this one issue I disagree with.&#8221;
Kinzinger went on to suggest that some simply supported Trump in order to get re-elected — or out of cowardice — after which he referenced his transition from the military to Congress. Noting that he returned from Iraq in 2009 and got elected in 2010, he said, &#8220;I remember thinking, if I&#8217;m going to ask people to be willing to die for this country — and obviously I&#8217;m going to have to take votes on that and I have — I have to be willing to give up my career for the same cause.&#8221;
&#8220;My oath is not to my district, it&#8217;s to the Constitution,&#8221; Kinzinger concluded.
But the Illinois congressman did not give up his career in order to defend the Constitution — he was effectively forced out of Congress when Illinois Democrats <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/videos/illinois-may-be-the-worst-democratic-gerrymander-in-the-country/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gerrymandered</a> his district out of existence. Illinois, a reliably blue state, skewed the map even further when they redrew the districts in such a way that Republicans — who held five of the state&#8217;s 17 seats — could only pull off wins in three in 2022.
&#8220;Illinois is the worst gerrymander in the country drawn by Democrats,&#8221; FiveThirtyEight senior elections analyst Nathaniel Rakich wrote.
<a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/house-republican-calls-it-quits-after-approval-of-new-illinois-districts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kinzinger</a> announced that he would not seek reelection just 12 hours after the new map was approved.

House January 6 Committee Holds Public Hearing

Adam Kinzinger Suggests He Risked His Seat To Save Democracy. Democrat Gerrymandering Erased His District.

Kinzinger Suggests He Risked His Seat To Save Democracy. Democrat Gerrymandering Erased His District

Democrats

Illinois

MSNBC

Redistricting

Rep. Adam Kinzinger&#8217;s (R-IL) political action committee, Country First, announced Tuesday that it supports multiple Democrats in key November elections.
Kinzinger&#8217;s PAC endorsements also included Republicans and an independent.
&#8220;Now more than ever, it’s critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy – regardless of their political party affiliation,&#8221; Kinzinger said in a <a href="https://www.country1st.com/endorsed?utm_campaign=2022_gen_endorse&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=country1st" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
&#8220;We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation’s democracy and demand accountability in our leaders. I’m proud to endorse this slate of candidates that are ready to put our country and the American people first,&#8221; he added.
The Democrats included Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, and Arizona secretary of state candidate Adrian Fontes. The PAC&#8217;s Democratic endorsements also included secretary of state candidates Cisco Aguilar in Nevada, Jocelyn Benson in Michigan, and Steve Simon in Minnesota.
Two key Republicans included in the PAC&#8217;s endorsements are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger. One independent, Utah Senate candidate Evan McMullin, was also among the picks on the list of Kinzinger&#8217;s PAC endorsements.
A brief description of the PAC&#8217;s support for each candidate was also included in the announcement. The basis for Raffensperger&#8217;s selection, for example, said, &#8220;As the top election official in Georgia, he overcame tremendous pressure from Donald Trump and his supporters to &#8216;find&#8217; enough votes to declare Trump the winner. Few politicians are willing to risk their careers to do the right thing, which is why it&#8217;s so important to support those, like Brad Raffensperger, who do.&#8221;
In August, Kinzinger said he would back Democrats against Republican candidates he believed were against democracy.
“If you have Republicans that are running against even left-wing Democrats that believe in democracy and believe in voting, that person should be elected over somebody who would basically overthrow the will of the people and, ultimately, destroy this country,&#8221; Kinzinger <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/transcripts/meet-the-press/meet-press-august-28-2022-n1298390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on NBC’s “Meet the Press.&#8221;
Kinzinger launched his PAC in January 2021 to promote Republican candidates to combat Trump’s influence over the party. He has also served on the House committee to investigate the events of January 6, 2021, participating along with just one other Republican in the group, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.
After the Illinois state legislature approved a new congressional map that changed Kinzinger&#8217;s district, he announced his retirement from Congress following the current term. He served as one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after January 6.

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger Backs Democrats In Key Races

2022 Midterms

political ad

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) said he would support Democrats, even far-left ones, over fellow Republicans he deems &#8220;anti-democracy.&#8221;
Appearing on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; Sunday, Kinzinger, one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, said he would throw his weight behind Democratic candidates for office who &#8220;believe in democracy&#8221; over Republican candidates who would &#8220;overthrow the will of the people.&#8221;
The remarks come after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liz-cheney-says-shell-support-dems-in-races-against-some-republicans">vowed</a> to support Democrats over some Republicans after she lost the GOP primary in a landslide earlier this month. Kinzinger and Cheney are the only Republicans on the January 6 select committee investigating the Capitol riot.
&#8220;Liz Cheney said in some cases she may have to help a Democrat win against sort of an anti-democracy Republican. Do you feel that is what you will be doing the next couple of years or so?&#8221; host Chuck Todd asked.
&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Kinzinger responded. &#8220;The bottom line is the biggest threat to our country is democracy [sic]. And if you have Republicans that are running against even left-wing Democrats that believe in democracy and believe in voting, that person should be elected over somebody who would basically overthrow the will of the people and, ultimately, destroy this country.&#8221;
&#8220;This country cannot survive outside of democracy,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;It will turn into a power struggle between groups of different races, of different ethnicities, of different religion. Because the thing that holds us together is this belief that we can self-govern. Take that away the country is a mess.&#8221;
&#8220;Republicans that are for that have no place in office, I don’t care what their policy position on taxes are,&#8221; he added.
Kinzinger started a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/31/gop-rep-kinzinger-start-new-pac-challenge-partys-trump-supporters/?itid=lk_inline_manual_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political action committee</a> called &#8220;Country 1st PAC&#8221; in January of 2021 to promote Republican candidates to combat former President Trump&#8217;s influence over the party. A group of Kinzinger&#8217;s advisers and allies launched a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/adam-kinzinger-super-pac-trump/2021/02/27/6202f346-792d-11eb-ae66-8b9e3c6918a1_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">super PAC and a grassroots nonprofit</a> to further boost anti-Trump candidates. The nonprofit, &#8220;Keep Country First Policy Action,&#8221; launched its first recruitment effort <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/08/keep-country-first-policy-action-kinzinger-00050148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier this month</a>.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liz-cheney-says-shell-support-dems-in-races-against-some-republicans">Liz Cheney Says She&#8217;ll Support Dems In Races Against Some Republicans</a>

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Adam Kinzinger Says He’ll Back Far-Left Dems Over ‘Anti-Democracy’ Republicans

Adam Kinzinger Says He'll Back Far-Left Dems Over 'Anti-Democracy' Republicans

Democracy

Meet the Press

Republicans

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans</a> serving on the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/january-6-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January 6 committee</a> investigating the Capitol riot don&#8217;t have much to say about reports that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI</a> told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> to censor the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hunter-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hunter Biden</a> laptop story.
Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s admission to Joe Rogan that Facebook hid the Hunter Biden laptop story ahead of the 2020 election at the bidding of the FBI has outraged most major Republicans. But Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) — who just lost her re-election bid — and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), both of whom have repeatedly cited their devotion to the Constitution in explaining their roles on the Jan. 6 committee, have yet to weigh in.
Neither representative responded to requests for comment from The Daily Wire asking them to weigh in on the news, which broke Thursday evening. They do not appear to have otherwise publicly discussed the revelation.
“We just kind of thought, hey, look, if the FBI, which I still view as a legitimate institution in this country, it’s like very professional law enforcement, they come to us and tell us that we need to be on guard about something, then I want to take that seriously,” Zuckerberg <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evidence-of-fbi-meddling-in-2020-election-mounts-after-zuckerbergs-hunter-biden-laptop-revelation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Rogan</a>.
In the hours after news broke about Zuckerberg&#8217;s admission, Kinzinger tweeted about reports that former President Donald Trump&#8217;s social media platform is late paying its bills to RightForge, its web hosting company. He also <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1562940560473608192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> pro-Trump Christian pastors.
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<a href="https://t.co/Z5S6v4UXQx">https://t.co/Z5S6v4UXQx</a> <a href="https://t.co/mG9B5fD1CO">pic.twitter.com/mG9B5fD1CO</a>
&mdash; Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1562983769484644354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Cheney <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/21/no-evidence-of-political-motivation-behind-fbi-raid-of-mar-a-lago-cheney-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weighed</a> in last week on the FBI&#8217;s raid of former President Donald Trump&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago home, saying, “I’ve seen no evidence that there was any political motivation.”
“I was ashamed to hear Republicans immediately and reflexively attack the FBI agents who executed the search warrant. I was disgusted when I learned that President Trump had released the names of the agents when he released the unredacted search warrant, and that has now caused violence,” Cheney added. “This is a really dangerous moment.”
And Kinzinger <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-allies-inciting-base-against-fbi-kinzinger-1733862" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> Trump of inciting his supporters against the FBI, saying in a CNN interview, “It&#8217;s ridiculous obviously for what the former president has done, in terms of saying, ‘This is an attack on my home, I did nothing wrong,’ and of course, from the little bit we know, it seems like there&#8217;s certainly good reasons for the FBI to have done what they did.”
“Yes, absolutely, 100 percent,” he responded when asked if he held Trump responsible for inciting his supporters to violence.
Kinzinger added: “Members of Congress, Senators, any Republican elected official out there that rushes to be the first on television or the first to Twitter to basically condemn the FBI — I&#8217;ll tell you as a guy who grew up in the right, and grew up as a Republican, there&#8217;s always been this strain of people who believe that the government is out there to get them, that the FBI represents that part of the government that&#8217;s out there to get people: This stokes that, it&#8217;s really dangerous, and I fear it could get worse unless people are way more responsible.”

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Cheney, Kinzinger Silent On News That Facebook Censored Hunter Biden Laptop At FBI’s Request

Jan. 6 Committee Republicans Silent Following News Facebook Censored Hunter Biden Laptop At FBI's Request

January 6

Liz Cheney

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ripped Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for slamming the Trump administration’s plan for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, Kinzinger tweeted, “Do not let my colleagues pretend today that Trump and Pompeo didn’t set in motion the Afghanistan withdrawal. They did. I knew Pompeo in the house. He was a hawk on Afghanistan until Trump. He knew better, he owns this as well. Trump Pompeo and Biden all to blame.”
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Do not let my colleagues pretend today that Trump and Pompeo didn’t set in motion the Afghanistan withdrawal. They did.
I knew Pompeo in the house. He was a hawk on Afghanistan until trump. He knew better, he owns this as well. 
Trump Pompeo and Biden all to blame.
&mdash; Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1559553953360125954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Pompeo fired back, “Adam Kinzinger repeatedly asked me for job in Trump Admin (Air Force Sec, Amb), and for wife. Now attacks our Afghan plan that saw no US fatalities/no Taliban takeover/no Americans left behind. Adam, I enjoyed our work in Congress. What’s happened to you? YOU should know better.”
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adamkinzinger</a> repeatedly asked me for job in Trump Admin (Air Force Sec, Amb), and for wife. Now attacks our Afghan plan that saw no US fatalities/no Taliban takeover/no Americans left behind. Adam, I enjoyed our work in Congress. What’s happened to you? YOU should know better.
&mdash; Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1560243822961065985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In August 2021, Kinzinger <a href="https://kinzinger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402790">wrote</a>, “The Taliban has always said that America has the watches, but they have the time. Under both President Trump and President Biden, the U.S. announced that our time in Afghanistan is over, effectively letting the Taliban know they were right, they could simply outwait us. And today, we watched as the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban regained full control.”
“This is the result of a shortsighted, weak, and utter failure of both the previous White House and the current Administration. The naïve Trump Administration legitimized the Taliban by having ‘talks’ with them about peace and openly negotiating with terrorists, while the Biden Administration tried to fulfill a campaign promise without any semblance of a plan or forethought into how this would play out.&#8221;
In mid-August 2021, as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, Pompeo <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/watch-pompeo-nukes-biden-in-response-to-biden-trying-to-blame-trump-for-afghanistan-debacle/">spoke</a> with Chris Wallace, then of Fox News, about President Biden blaming the Trump administration for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“President Biden released a statement yesterday in which, in effect, he blamed President Trump and your administration for the deal that you made with the Taliban back in 2020, which resulted in a promise at that time — that President Trump had stayed in office — to pull all troops out by this past May,” Wallace stated, then quoted Biden saying, “When I became president, I faced a choice: follow through on the deal or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country&#8217;s civil conflict.”
“If the risks weren&#8217;t so serious, Chris, it would be pathetic,” Pompeo replied. “I wouldn&#8217;t have let my 10-year old son get away from this kind of pathetic blame-shifting&#8230;. it&#8217;s worth noting, this did not happen on our watch. We reduced our forces significantly and the Taliban didn&#8217;t advance on capitals all across Afghanistan.”
“Critics say that for the U.S. to cut a deal with the Taliban without the Afghan government even in the room was hugely demoralizing and led inevitably to where we are today,” Wallace pressed.
“That&#8217;s just simply not true,” Pompeo answered. “Go read the deal. Go read the conditions that were built into the deal. I was in the room. I was at the center of working to deliver that. The Afghans were in the room. We had the Afghans all in the room for the same time in 20 years; we had Afghan leaders. &#8230; We were working diligently to deliver on the president&#8217;s two missions: to get our young people home, to reduce the risk of the United States from having our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines there in Afghanistan, and second, to create the conditions where we could make sure that a terror attack on the United States did not happen from there. We did it in the Philippines. We did it in Syria. We reduced terrorism risk all around the world. We would have done it in Afghanistan as well.”
&nbsp;

Kinz

Kinzinger Rips Trump, Pompeo Over Afghanistan Withdrawal. Pompeo Fires Back.

Kinzinger Rips Pompeo Over Afghanistan Withdrawal. Pompeo Fires Back.

Afghanistan

Mike Pompeo

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), a congressman with more than half a million followers, posted a screenshot of Facebook criticism from his former co-pilot on Twitter and accused him of &#8220;allegiance to Trump over his oath to the constitution.&#8221;
The Illinois Republican&#8217;s membership on the Democrat-led January 6 committee investigating former President Donald Trump&#8217;s alleged role in the Capitol riot has sparked strong condemnation from his critics.
This includes a man who reportedly served as Kinzinger&#8217;s co-pilot in Iraq, Jeff Surran, who the congressman said now works as an airline pilot. Kinzinger did not mention what airline Surran flies for, but the congressman&#8217;s post quickly prompted some users to say that Surran is employed by JetBlue.
&#8220;So we have a member on here who was partly responsible for the former President of the United States residence being stormed by the FBI today,&#8221; Surran posted in a private Facebook group that Kinzinger appears to be part of. &#8220;I say f*** that anti American POS. I wish I never met him or flew with him. He is a disgrace to this country and this group.&#8221;
Kinzinger posted a screenshot of the Facebook post, taken apparently seven minutes after Surran initially posted and before anyone had liked the post.
&#8220;This guy, Jeff Suran, was my copilot in Iraq and now an airline pilot,&#8221; Kinzinger tweeted. &#8220;He has allegiance to Trump over his oath to the constitution.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1556842476589223941
Kinzinger&#8217;s Twitter post prompted some users to <a href="https://twitter.com/Art72903458/status/1556889692246683648">begin tweeting</a> at JetBlue and criticize Surran for his opinions. However, others praised Surran, letting JetBlue know that they would make the airline &#8220;our first choice for air travel for hiring such great, patriotic, veteran pilots.&#8221; 
Kinzinger did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire as to why he posted about Surran and whether the post was intended to impact Surran&#8217;s employment. Surran could not immediately be reached for comment.

‘Allegiance To Trump Over His Oath To The Constitution’: January 6 Committee Republican Blasts Man He Flew With In Iraq

Adam Kinzinger Slams Man He Flew With In Iraq For Facebook Post