Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy offered an enthusiastic affirmative response when asked if it is a “good idea” for the Republican Party to nominate Donald Trump despite his criminal conviction last week.

The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to cover up alleged affairs ahead of the 2016 election. Sentencing is set for July 11 and the ex-president has said he will appeal the verdict.

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, which would mark the first time in U.S. history that a major party has nominated a convicted felon to be president. Conservatives have insisted that Trump’s criminal status will actually help his bid to return to the White House.

Appearing on Sunday’s Inside Politics on CNN, McCarthy added his name to that list when asked about Trump’s conviction by Manu Raju.

“Obviously, you’ve made your views known about how you disagree with the verdict in the Trump criminal trial,” Raju said. “But you know politics. Is it a good idea to – separating out your view of the verdict – is it a good idea for the Republican Party to nominate a convicted felon?”

Without hesitation, McCarthy responded:

Listen, is it a good idea that Donald Trump is the nominee? The answer’s 100%, yes. Will Donald Trump win this presidency? The answer is yes. It’s interesting. I was watching the earlier part of your show, and I get it. The verdict has just come in. The question is, should an even have gone to trial? The majority of Americans understand that if Donald Trump did not run for president, this never would’ve even gone to trial.

After the former speaker alleged the case against Trump was “politically motivated,” Raju reiterated his question about the political ramifications and whether the conviction could repel independent and women voters.

“I think this is the part that CNN is missing: this is a reelection of Joe Biden for president, “McCarthy replied. “Joe Biden is running on, democracy is on the ballot, Biden economics. These are the two driving things that people are opposed to. Do people want four more years of this? This is where people are missing really what is going on with the American public.”

“So you’re basically saying this is not gonna matter to voters come November?” Raju asked.

“I’ll put an asterisk there because it’s still new,” McCarthy conceded. “People will have some concerns about it, but it’s not gonna determine this election.”

Watch above via CNN.

The post Kevin McCarthy Replies ‘100% Yes’ When Asked If It’s a ‘Good Idea’ for GOP to Nominate ‘Convicted Felon’ Trump first appeared on Mediaite.

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