Will George Santos Now Resign According To George Santos?
Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Rep. George Santos, the troubled New York congressman who took office this year after lying about his biography during his campaign.
The specifics of the criminal allegations, which were filed under seal, could not be ascertained immediately, but Santos has been under federal investigation since at least December. He is also being investigated by a number of other bodies, including New York City prosecutors and the House Ethics Committee.
Santos has been accused of engaging in illegal behavior and failing to provide required information throughout his 2022 campaign.
This comes after the House Committee on Ethics announced in March that its members have unanimously voted to formally open an investigation into Santos over allegations of unlawful activity and failure to disclose information.
The congressman’s spokeswoman did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the rumors that he had been charged. He announced his re-election bid last month, while some Republican leaders in New York have warned they will not support him.
The freshman Republican admits to deceiving voters about his background, including his degree and professional experience. He has stated that he has committed no crimes and that he expects to continue serving in Congress.
Watchdog groups and the House Ethics Committee have heightened their investigation of Santos’ financial declarations and loans to his campaign totalling more than $625,000. He has also faced questions regarding a recent spike in income, which he has justified as legal.
Santos also convinced at least one person to spend six figures in a Florida-based company that the Securities and Exchange Commission later declared to be a Ponzi scheme.
The beleaguered freshman lawmaker has kept a low profile as a member of Congress as inquiries have followed him since his arrival in Washington earlier this year.
He supported House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in his contentious bid for speaker and has maintained an active Twitter presence, but he requested removal from House committees in January due to “ongoing attention surrounding both my personal and campaign financial investigations.”
When asked to comment on Santos’ indictment, McCarthy said he would follow the same procedure he had for other politicians facing accusations.
“If a person is indicted, they are not on committees,” he added, adding that if a lawmaker is convicted, he will request their resignation. “In America, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” he added.
Observers have been unearthing Santos’ past tweets that echo McCarthy’s sentiment, especially on strict ethics practice for lawmakers to resign once they’ve been proven guilty of a crime.
Democrats and some Republicans in New York, including several members of the congressional delegation, have been calling out for Santos’ resignation.
A spokesperson for Nassau County GOP Chairman Joseph Cairo, who has called for Santos’ resignation, said he would reply once the allegations were made public.
On April 17, Santos formally declared his re-election bid, stating he wants to keep pressing for tighter border policies and the restoration of the federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes. According to Federal Election Commission reports, his campaign refunded more contributions than it received in the first three months of the year and ended the quarter with around $25,000 on hand.
Information for this briefing was found via the The Wall Street Journal and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
