House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) postures with pollster Frank Luntz at the podium in the Quicken Loans Arena at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, July 19, 2016.
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the House, confessed Tuesday that he leased a space for “a couple of months” from GOP pollster and business consultant Frank Luntz.
But McCarthy, throughout a look on Fox News, rejected there was any dispute of interest in sharing a house with his long time friend Luntz, a commucations specialist for Republican triggers and corporations.
McCarthy’s laughing verification came a day after annoyed Fox News host Tucker Carlson initially reported the California Republican’s curious living plan with Luntz in downtown Washington. McCarthy informed Fox News he paid “fair market rate” for the space to Luntz.
Records examined by CNBC show that Luntz purchased that three-bedroom, 3½-bath, 1,740 square-foot penthouse apartment or condo in 2018 for more than $1 million.
The pad boasts “Italian appliances” and a “rooftop patio,” according a realty website.
Carlson had actually revealed wide-eyed awe Monday night that Luntz — who has actually been a spoken target of his just recently — was functioning as McCarthy’s property owner.
Carlson’s ire originates from his belief that Luntz is “effectively a Democrat” — whom Carlson states likewise efficiently “lobbies on behalf of some of the world’s most left-wing corporations” — while having the ear of “the leadership of the Republican Party.”
“His views, make no mistake, bear no resemblance whatsoever to the views of actual Republican voters,” Carlson fumed on his program.
Carlson started teeing off on Luntz recently after the pollster was estimated by Axios as stating “Republicans are more pro-immigrant than elites realize.”
Carlson stated on his program he was tipped off to McCarthy sticking with Luntz, however that McCarthy’s spokesperson just about laughed in very first rejecting the pointer Monday early morning.
She stated McCarthy either slept on his workplace sofa or leased hotel spaces when in Washington, according to Carlson.
But that spokesperson 2 hours later on validated the pointer in a text to Carlson’s program, stating, “Because of the [coronavirus] pandemic, McCarthy has actually leased a space in Washington at a reasonable market value from Frank.”
Carlson revealed the message on his program and after that stated, “Now you know why they listen to Frank Luntz and not you.”
When Fox and Friends host Steve Doocy asked McCarthy on Tuesday early morning about sticking with Luntz — “What’s up with that?” — the legislator smiled.
“I didn’t know how this was controversial,” McCarthy stated.
“Frank has been a friend of mine for more than 30 years.”
McCarthy then chalked up his usage of Luntz’s house to Democrats altering around workplaces in the House of Representatives — not to the Covid-19 pandemic, as his spokesperson informed Carlson.
“As Democrats took over they started changing the House around,” McCarthy informed Doocy.
Democrats won bulk control in the House 2 years back. So it is unclear how a reconfiguration of workplaces then resulted in McCarthy stick with Luntz more just recently.
“Yeah, I rented a room from Frank for a couple of months, but don’t worry, I’m going back to where I am normally … back to the couch in my office,” McCarthy informed Doocy.
“We paid far-market rent,” McCarthy stated.
CNBC has actually connected to McCarthy’s workplace to ask for how long precisely he stuck with Luntz, and what rate he paid the pollster.
“Frank’s not a lobbyist, Frank’s a friend,” McCarthy informed Doocy when the Fox News host explained Carlson’s criticisms. “I don’t see that there’s any problem there along that line.”
Luntz, a regular visitor on CNBC, did not right away return an ask for remark.
— Additional reporting by CNBC’s Brian Schwartz and Christina Wilkie
