House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has distanced himself from embattled Rep. George Santos (R-NY) on Wednesday, indicating that he would not support him if he ran for reelection. Other conservative lawmakers have called for Santos's resignation, but McCarthy said he would wait for a trial before forcing him to exit.
Santos was indicted on 13 counts of financial crimes, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. The Justice Department alleged that Santos "defrauded prospective political supporters" by moving campaign funds into his personal bank account and using the funds for personal purchases, among other uses.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges in court and being charged with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making false statements to the House of Representatives; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy declared he will not support Representative George Santos' reelection bid amid these federal indictments revealed earlier in the day.
The House Ethics Committee has opened a bipartisan investigation into Santos after several complaints were filed to the panel. A few Republicans have shown support for keeping Santos in office as his charges play out; however, such is not the case with McCarthy who stated that an individual facing criminal charges should be barred from serving on congressional committees until further notice.
In response to these allegations against him - which his attorney claims are part of a politically motivated witch hunt – Rep. George Santos requested permission from the judge overseeing his case to travel freely throughout New York State as well as Washington D.C., so as not lose momentum during his ongoing re-election campaign efforts.
Paul Roland Bois provided comments regarding this matter: “The situation with Representative George Santo’s indictment highlights yet another instance where politics appear intertwined with potential corruption," said Paul Roland Bois - a political commentator and filmmaker who joined Breitbart News in 2021. "As the trial unfolds, it will be crucial for all parties involved to maintain transparency and ensure that justice is served.”
With Santos expected to travel back to Washington D.C., on Wednesday, he is slated to vote on a critical border bill this Thursday. As the legal process continues and McCarthy's stance against his fellow Republican takes shape, many eyes will remain glued to how this situation develops over time.