McCarthy won’t back Santos, citing other priorities.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy distances himself from Rep. George Santos amid criminal charges

McCarthy won’t support Santos for reelection

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made it clear on Wednesday that he would not support Rep. George Santos (R-NY) if he ran for reelection. Santos is currently facing 13 criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to the House of Representatives.

While some conservative lawmakers have called for Santos’s resignation, McCarthy has not gone that far. Instead, he has stated that he will wait for a trial before making any decisions. Santos, on the other hand, has reaffirmed that he plans to run for reelection.

Santos’s indictment includes 13 counts of financial crimes

The charges against Santos are serious. The Justice Department alleges that he “defrauded prospective political supporters” by moving campaign funds into his personal bank account and using the funds for personal purchases, including designer clothing. He also allegedly received $24,000 in unemployment funds while working and overstated his income and assets during his campaigns.

Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Santos posted bail on Wednesday, which was set at $500,000. He is expected to travel back to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to vote on a border bill on Thursday.

McCarthy calls for Santos to focus on his legal issues

When asked about Santos’s future, McCarthy stated, “I think he has some other things to focus on in this life than running.” It’s clear that McCarthy believes Santos should focus on his legal issues before considering another term in Congress.

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Summary

• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will not support Rep. George Santos if he runs for reelection.
• Santos is facing 13 criminal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.
• The Justice Department alleges that Santos moved campaign funds into his personal bank account and used the funds for personal purchases.
• Santos posted bail on Wednesday and is expected to travel back to Washington, D.C., to vote on a border bill on Thursday.
• McCarthy believes Santos should focus on his legal issues before considering another term in Congress.