House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) weighed in on President Obama pardoning Chelsea Manning, and he's not a fan of the president's actions. In a statement, McCarthy said that commuting Manning's sentence sends "the wrong signal at the worst possible time" and could encourage and embolden other people to leak national security secrets, thinking that there would not be consequences.
The decision to pardon Chelsea Manning sends the wrong signal at the worst possible time. My full statement ?? pic.twitter.com/6yu7Xa9S6z
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 17, 2017
“The decision to pardon Chelsea Manning sends the wrong signal at the worst possible time. Safeguarding our national secrets is a sacred oath, and those who betray that oath should not be rewarded by the Commander in Chief, of all people. This decision—ironic given the recent rhetoric from the Administration—will embolden future leakers who will be led to believe there will not be serious consequences for their actions.”
The majority leader then added that safeguarding America's secrets is an oath that should be taken seriously, and those who violate that oath need to be punished.
Safeguarding our national secrets is a sacred oath, and those who betray that oath should not be rewarded by the Commander in Chief.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 17, 2017