McCarthy broaches Santos, Omar and other panel dramas in closed-door meeting

Speaker Kevin McCarthy briefly addressed the most scandal-plagued member of his conference on Wednesday, privately telling House Republicans that George Santos will continue to serve unless something triggers his removal.

The GOP leader noted Santos will continue to serve on his two committees but would lose those assignments if he were ultimately charged with a crime the same rules that any House Republican is subject to, according to three Republicans who attended the closed-door conference meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Asked whether he believed he had the speakers support after the GOP conference meeting, Santos evaded the question: Whats your assessment of that? he asked. You guys got the information so that should be incumbent upon you guys to make that assessment.

McCarthys mention came after the California Republican touched on a topic popular with much of his party: booting Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both California Democrats, off the House Intelligence Committee. A select panel like Intelligence is different from most other House committees, in that the speaker has unilateral power to appoint the chair and control the membership.