Standoff over US government debt default ‘not my fault’, says Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy denies the Republicans are to blame for the default crisis (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A defiant House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Wednesday the debt ceiling standoff was “not my fault” as he sent Republican negotiators to the White House to finish talks, but warned the two sides need more time as they try to reach a budget deal with President Joe Biden.

McCarthy said he remained optimistic they could reach an agreement before a deadline as soon as next week, when the Treasury Department could run out of cash to pay its bills.