(PM.) CNN announced Wednesday that former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who did not seek re-election in 2022, has joined the outlet as senior political analyst. Kinzinger was one of two Republicans on the House Select January 6 Committee, and took the appointment to that committee over objections of House GOP leadership.
Kinzinger made his debut as a CNN contributor Wednesday evening on “Erin Burnett Outfront” and joins the network’s lineup of self-proclaimed “Never-Trump Republicans” including former Rep. Charlie Dent, Alyssa Farrah Griffin, and Ana Navarro.
Just days before the announcement Fox News host Tucker Carlson predicted the move saying, “In just weeks, Adam Kinzinger will be another CNN contributor. No one will ever see him again, but we will never forget him.”
Happy to join the team @CNN! https://t.co/ypkns5pfEY
— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) January 5, 2023
The former Illinois representative ,who has served since 2011, formally left the House this week after choosing not to seek reelection in the 2022 midterms. He announced in October 2021 that he was retiring though he likely would have faced a difficult battle for reelection due to redistricting and his unpopularity in his own party.
Erin Burnett makes it official. Adam Kinzinger is now a senior political commentator for CNN. Selling out his party has paid off for him. Enjoy your new friends, Adam! pic.twitter.com/mbWkwxCXfP
— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) January 5, 2023
Kinzinger was known as one of the most vocal anti-Trump lawmakers in Congress and was one of the token Republicans appointed to the House Jan. 6 Committee by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He said of his work on the committee, that if Trump was not charged with inciting an insurrection, “the future of the country is doomed.”
He was also one of the ten Republican lawmakers who voted for former President Trump’s impeachment following the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and called the GOP under Trump “kind of creepy.”
Often referred to as a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only), Kinzinger was a regular guest on the liberal network during the last two years, usually invited on-air to slam former President Donald Trump and the majority of Republicans.
Kinzinger was mocked mercilessly on Fox News and social media after the announcement, as many assumed he would sign with a liberal news network at the end of his term.
This is a huge surprise.
I really thought he was going to land at MSNBC https://t.co/818hWVkYaM
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) January 5, 2023
