After Blowback, John Cornyn Claims He Was Joking About Immigration Deal: ‘No Secret Amnesty Bill’

After facing swift and intense backlash from conservatives and Republican lawmakers, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) claimed that he was joking about striking a deal on amnesty after negotiating a deal on gun control.

As the Senate voted to advance gun legislation on Tuesday night, which arose from Cornyn’s negotiations with Democrats, Cornyn told Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), “First guns, now it’s immigration.”

In response to Cornyn’s comment, Sinema said, “That’s right, we’re going to do it.”

The comment drew swift backlash from former Trump administration officials such as Andrew Surabian, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA), and House Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Jim Banks (IN).

“From selling out on gun control to selling out on amnesty in light speed,” Surabian said.

McCarthy said amnesty was not on the table.

“Amnesty is a non starter with me and won’t be taken up by a House Republican majority,” the Republican leader told Axios. “Our border crisis is the worst in history and the only immigration plan should be to secure the border and stop illegal immigration that’s fueling the worst drug crisis in history. House Republicans will fight for this with everything we have.”

“.@GOPleader already pledged NO AMNESTY. Republicans in the House are united and so are our voters!”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/06/22/after-blowback-cornyn-claims-he-was-joking-about-working-with-dems-on-immigration-no-secret-amnesty-bill/