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AP Photo Rep. Jones calls for candidates with 'misdeeds' to withdraw from leadership race

North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones (R) sent a letter to the No. 4 House Republican saying any candidate for leadership who has committed any "misdeeds" since joining Congress should "withdraw" from the contest.

Jones, a 20-year veteran of Washington, is referring to marital infidelity, and made reference to former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.), who stepped down due to an affair before he was slated to become speaker, and Newt Gingrich.

"With all the voter distrust of Washington felt around the country, I am asking that any candidate for Speaker of the House, majority leader, and majority whip withdraw himself from the leadership election if there are any misdeeds he has committed since joining Congress that will embarrass himself, the Republican Conference and the House of Representatives if they become public," Jones wrote in a letter to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).

Jones, in an interview with POLITICO Wednesday morning, said he is not referring to anyone specific. He said he doesn't want any misstep to "destroy our conference." Jones made reference to revelations that surfaced earlier this year that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) allegedly spoke to a white supremacy group a decade ago.

"My point was not any individual, what it was that in this world we live in today, with you young guys, and the Internet and everything, all the blogs and the papers, I just felt that when I leave at 5 o'clock, no one knows what I do," Jones said. "What I'm trying to say is if anybody running for leadership has after 5 o' clock, had an issue, drinking and driving or playing cards, or anything, then I think that the conference needs to know it."

The House Republican Conference will nominate a candidate for speaker Thursday, and a new majority leader and whip next week. Jones said the leadership must serve with the "utmost integrity."