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National Republicans have hitched their wagon to Monica De La Cruz, who faces a primary battle in TX-15 amid allegations of “cruel and aggressive” treatment of her stepdaughter — and her backers must say why they have refused to denounce the serious concerns about her fitness for public office.
In November, reports revealed that De La Cruz was facing accusations of “cruel and aggressive treatment” toward her teenage stepdaughter, including “verbal abuse and pinching the child to stop her from crying.” According to court documents reported by PEOPLE and the Washington Post, De La Cruz used “vulgar” and “disturbing” language about her stepdaughter in text conversations and “expressed that she would sooner divorce” her now-ex husband than allow her stepdaughter back into their shared home.
But as details about De La Cruz’s treatment of a minor in her care have continued to emerge, her national Republican backers have stayed silent. According to the latest FEC report, the list of national Republicans who have pumped thousands of dollars into De La Cruz’s campaign via their PACs and campaigns, but refused to condemn her behavior, include:
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ($5,000)
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NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer ($2,500)
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House Minority Whip Steve Scalise ($7,000)
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House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik ($5,000)
“By staying silent about their frontrunner candidate’s alleged ‘cruel and aggressive’ treatment of a child in her care, national Republicans have tacitly endorsed that this kind of behavior belongs in the halls of Congress,” said DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson. “The NRCC and national Republican leaders who back Monica De La Cruz’s campaign must break their silence and say if they believe this conduct is acceptable from their top recruits.”
In November, Washington Post reported that a “spokesperson for McCarthy did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Campaign declined to comment” on the allegations.
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