Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL) will join CNN as a political contributor after the January 6 Committee, of which he was a member, was disbanded in December.
CNN confirmed on Wednesday that Kinzinger, who along with former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) was one of two Republican members on the January 6 Committee, will join the network as a senior political commentator. Unlike Cheney, who was defeated in her primary by Harriet Hageman, Kinzinger chose not to run for reelection after having served six terms representing his Illinois district.
Kinzinger has intensified his anti-Trump, anti-Republican statements in recent days, alleging that the Republican Party has become an extremist hotspot under former President Donald Trump's influence.
Speaking to CNN on New Year's Day, Kinzinger stated that he was worried about the future of the nation if the former president doesn't receive an indictment.
“If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, there’s no limit to what a president can or can’t do. Yeah, I do think ultimately, when we get to where we’re going to go, I think the Justice Department will do the right thing. I think he will be charged,” he stated.
“I frankly think he should be. Everything we’ve uncovered, from what he did with the Justice Department to everything leading up to January 6, to on January 6, sitting there for 180 minutes and watching this occur in the hope that maybe, just maybe, that last attempt to stay in power will work,” he added.
Kinzinger further stated at the time of the interview that the Republican Party was not the future of the nation unless Americans corrected it.
“The Republican Party is not the future of this country unless it corrects, unless there’s a change,” he said. “I’ve got to tell you if you think of a successful America in 20 years, that’s not going to be an America based on what Marjorie Taylor Greene wants or what some of these radicals want. The only way this country can succeed is if we learn to work together.”
