Politics- Kevin McCarthy was seen swerving questions about Santos and Trump like a pro.
- "I'm not going to avoid your question," McCarthy told a reporter.
If dodging reporters' tough questions was a sport, Rep. Kevin McCarthy would be the G.O.A.T.
On Tuesday, McCarthy did just that when it came to questions about former President Donald Trump, who a jury just found liable for sexually abusing the writer, E. Jean Carroll, and beleaguered New York Rep. George Santos, who was just hit with criminal charges from the Justice Department.
"Are you going to continue to stand by George Santos now that he's been indicted on federal charges? And do you stand by Trump after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse?" a reporter asked McCarthy.
"I'm not going to avoid your question," McCarthy told the reporter, before doing just that.
—Acyn (@Acyn) May 9, 2023
"But as you know, I've been at the White House. I haven't seen the indictment," McCarthy said. "But as you know, with George Santos, I did not put him on any committees."
"In America, we'll just follow the same pattern we always have, right?" McCarthy added. "If a person is indicted, they're not on committees, they have the right to vote. But they have to go to trial."
He added that after this process, if found guilty, Santos might have to resign.
"And Trump being found liable?" other reporters chimed in.
"I — I don't know. I've been in meetings," McCarthy said.
In another clip, also from Tuesday, McCarthy again pulled out the "meetings" line.
"Mr. Speaker. A jury just found Donald Trump liable of sexual abuse, do you still support him?" one reporter asked.
"You know what? I've been in this meeting. But let me find out what this is," McCarthy said, brushing off the question and moving on.
—Acyn (@Acyn) May 9, 2023
McCarthy's had practice, and it isn't his first rodeo dodging questions while in the hot seat. He's previously swerved questions about the January 6 riot and avoided answering whether the US should pass an assault weapons ban to prevent mass shootings.
A representative for McCarthy did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.