Here is the Washington Post’s David Wiegand covering David McKinley at a Republican forum:

At a GOP womens forum in WV, where Rep. David McKinley (R) who’s been forced into a new district with a Trump-endorsed R, is taking Qs. First one is about Jan. 6 commission, from a woman who was there on 1/6. pic.twitter.com/Cjap5sYlIE

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) April 9, 2022

Additionally:

McKinley told her that Trump had some role in creating the atmosphere, just as Maxine Waters did — basically the Trump impeachment defense.

Back on road to next event.

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) April 9, 2022

This was not the first time McKinley has invoked Waters to defend Trump. Here’s McKinley earlier this year on WV Metro News:

McKinley said that in addition to looking at President Trump the committee should be looking at the words and actions of Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California, a Democrat who objected to the Electoral College count in 2017, along with “social media” and even the cable network MSNBC.

What did Waters do to suggest to McKinley that her actions were nearly equivalent to Trump’s on January 6? Did she surreptitiously conspire to change electors or documents in order to change the results of the election? Did she encourage a violent attack upon the Capitol? Did she conspire with like-minded Democrats to put pressure on the Vice President to alter election results? From CBS News in January 2017:

Congress certified Donald Trump's presidential victory Friday over the objections of a handful of House Democrats, including Los Angeles-area Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
Waters and other House Democrats from at least 10 states objected to the votes, raising issues of voter suppression as well as American intelligence showing that Russia tried to influence the election in favor of Trump. In each case, their objections were denied because they didn't have the support of any senators.

Nice try, Congressman, Trump’s and Waters’ actions were not equivalent.

Of course, McKinley knows his audience and citing Waters is no accident; a quick trip around the Web reveals that she, along with Nancy Pelosi, are easily the Trump/Republican Party's two most hated politicians. For her detractors, Waters is an Afro-American, liberal, outspoken woman who clearly doesn’t know her place. For the Trump supporters, what’s not to hate? It's no wonder McKinley invoked her.