Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was considered one of many individuals calling for New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D) to resign, but it surely solely took two phrases to get him to vary his thoughts.
Menendez was indicted final week on bribery expenses. On Saturday, McCarthy known as for the senator’s resignation, saying that the indictment was “very damaging” and that the proof offered by prosecutors “appears fairly black and white.”
However McCarthy appeared to flip-flop on Tuesday after CNN’s Manu Raju requested him a cagey query: “Do you assume that George Santos, who’s been indicted on federal legal expenses, must also resign?”
The partisan divide within the Home may be very slim ― 221 Republicans to 212 Democrats ― and McCarthy wants each potential vote he can get.
So after Raju identified the hypocrisy of asking a Democrat to resign and a Republican to battle their cost in courtroom, McCarthy determined Menendez must also be presumed harmless till discovered responsible.
“I feel George might have his day in courtroom, and I feel Menendez might have his day in courtroom,” he mentioned.
Raju then reminded McCarthy of his earlier feedback, saying, “Mr. Speaker, why do you assume [Menendez] must resign, then?”
McCarthy instantly flip-flopped.
“It might be his alternative of what he needs to do, sure,” he mentioned.
You possibly can watch the section under.
Though many Democratic lawmakers have urged Menendez resign, he’s refusing to take action.
In the meantime, Enterprise Insider notes that no Republican senators have known as on him to step down, and a few, like Arkansas’ Tom Cotton, have even expressed assist.
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