House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) bristled under questioning about why the Republican caucus is only just now taking steps to punish Rep. Steve King (R-IA) for his comments on white supremacy.

“Have I been leader for years?” he retorted, according to the New York Times.

He continued that he has only been the “in a position to take action” as the head of the House Republicans for “a short amount of time.”

King has now been stripped of his committee roles and indirectly condemned by the passage of a resolution in the House decrying white supremacy. He has a years-long track record of offensive statements and hobnobbing with far-right fringe groups.