McCarthy Leaves Open Whether Santos Will Be Removed from Congress After Reported Charges

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) would not say that Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.) must leave the House of Representatives as the latter faces criminal charges from the Biden administration’s Justice Department.

“I’ll look at the charges,” McCarthy told reporters on May 9, during a press conference mainly focused on debt ceiling negotiations with President Joe Biden.

President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on May 9, 2023. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque) CNN first broke the story of Santos’ imminent indictment the afternoon of May 9, citing “three sources familiar with the matter.” Their story claims he could appear in a courtroom as soon as tomorrow, May 10. It also asserts the charges remain under seall.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Justice for confirmation.

The embattled freshman Congressman faces federal charges in the Eastern District of New York, according to reports.

Santos has faced a litany of accusations since taking office, against a backdrop of demonstrably false statements by the lawmaker, ranging from the trivial to the potentially criminal.

The nonpartisan watchdog group Campaign Legal Center alleged that he violated federal campaign finance law during the midterms.

He described himself as a “terrible liar” during a February interview with Piers Morgan.

Although McCarthy granted Santos committee assignments at start of the 118th Congress, Santos soon stepped down from those assignments.

Other New York Republicans went on to introduce a bill targeting individuals indicted for campaign finance violations, in a move inspired by Santos.

“Con artists, liars, and fabulists wh