they wrote to the Illinois Republican, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the paper, rebuking his "horrible, rude accusations of President Trump." "You have embarrassed the Kinzinger family name!" The blowback these lawmakers have faced has underscored the hold Trump continues to have over the Republican base. Kiniznger told the Times that the family members who signed the letter are experiencing "brainwashing" from conservative churches that have misled them. Kinzinger is from a large family in central Illinois, and his father has 32 first cousins, according to the paper.

Source: CNN February 16, 2021 04:18 UTC