It would be premature for the U.S. House of Representatives to investigate whether its former leader committed any wrongdoing while still in office, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday.
"I think due process, have that play out to see what's true, what the facts are and what's going forward," McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters about ex-Speaker Dennis Hastert's federal indictment. "Right now it seems like it's being investigated, so let the investigation take place."
McCarthy came to Congress in 2007, just after Hastert's eight years as speaker ended. Hastert, a Republican, resigned from Congress in November of that year.
"As everybody else, I was shocked," McCarthy said.
Hastert has been charged with making bank withdrawals designed to evade federal reporting requirements of financial transactions. The indictment also says he was using the money to keep an unidentified person quiet about Hastert's unspecified misconduct toward that person.
A person familiar with the matter has told The Associated Press that Hastert paid the individual in an apparent effort to conceal decades-old allegations involving sexual misconduct. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing and the allegations are not contained in the indictment issued last week.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.