McCarthy Teases Swalwell’s Past Tie to Suspected Chinese Spy, Sidesteps Questions on Santos

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, on Jan. 12, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

In a recent interview, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joked about Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) previously serving the House Intelligence Committee without a security clearance—as the new speaker asserted—over past ties to a Chinese national and suspected spy.

Yet McCarthy didn’t explain why he relented on Rep. George Santos’ (R-N.Y.) serving on two committees, despite piling allegations of lies and misconduct against the freshly sworn-in congressman.