By FARNOUSH AMIRI and MICHAEL BALSAMO (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — It needs to be a time of triumph for Republicans able to take again management of the House within the new Congress subsequent week, however their leaders are scuffling with an embarrassing distraction about considered one of their very own: What to do about George Santos?
Weeks after successful a district that helped Republicans safe their razor-thin House majority, the congressman-elect is underneath investigation in New York after acknowledging he lied about his heritage, schooling {and professional} pedigree as he campaigned for workplace.
The high House Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, and his management staff have saved silent about Santos, who is ready to take the oath of workplace Tuesday, even after he publicly admitted to fabricating swaths of his biography. The now-embattled Republican has proven no indicators of stepping apart, punting the choice to carry him accountable to his get together and to the Congress, the place he may shortly face a House ethics committee investigation as soon as sworn into workplace.
Representatives for McCarthy, who’s working to grow to be the subsequent House speaker, didn’t reply when requested what motion he might take regarding Santos. On Tuesday, Santos was requested on Fox News in regards to the “blatant lies” and responded that he had “made a mistake.”
Democrats, who shall be within the minority throughout the upcoming session, are anticipated to pursue a number of avenues in opposition to the 34-year-old Santos, together with a possible grievance with the Federal Election Commission and introducing a decision to expel him as soon as he’s a sitting member of Congress, in accordance with a senior Democratic aide who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate inside deliberations.
“We need answers from George Santos. He appears to be a complete and utter fraud. His whole life story is made up,” the incoming House Democratic chief, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, informed reporters final week. “He’s gonna have to answer that question: Did you perpetrate a fraud on the voters of the 3rd Congressional District of New York?”
Questions had been first raised about Santos earlier this month when The New York Times revealed an investigation into his resume and located various main discrepancies. Since then, Santos has admitted mendacity about having Jewish ancestry, mendacity about working for Wall Street banks and mendacity about acquiring a school diploma.
Santos has but to handle different lingering questions, together with the supply of a private fortune he seems to have amassed shortly regardless of latest monetary issues, together with evictions and owing 1000’s in again hire.
Santos in November received a seat within the Long Island space represented by Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, making headlines as the primary non-incumbent, brazenly homosexual Republican to be elected to Congress.
If Santos assumes workplace, he may nonetheless face an investigation by the House ethics committee, which is liable for reviewing allegations of misconduct by lawmakers. The committee, evenly determined between the events, has the authority underneath the chamber’s guidelines to subpoena members for testimony or paperwork, and lawmakers are required to conform.
Tom Rust, a committee spokesman, declined to remark this week on whether or not the committee can or would examine Santos. Despite his actions occurring earlier than becoming a member of the House, the committee has through the years held that it could examine issues that violated legal guidelines, laws or requirements of conduct throughout an preliminary marketing campaign for the House.
But an ethics grievance might find yourself being the least of Santos’ issues.
Federal prosecutors in New York have began to look at Santos’ background and his monetary dealings, an individual aware of the matter stated Thursday. The particular person, who cautioned the overview was in its early phases, stated prosecutors had been particularly keen on earnings that Santos accrued and are reviewing marketing campaign finance filings.
The particular person was not licensed to publicly focus on particulars of the continuing overview and spoke on situation of anonymity.
The district legal professional in Nassau County, New York, introduced on Wednesday an investigation into the fabrications Santos made whereas campaigning to symbolize the state’s third district, which incorporates some Long Island suburbs and a small a part of the New York City borough of Queens.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a Republican, stated the fabrications and inconsistencies had been “nothing short of stunning.”
“The residents of Nassau County and other parts of the third district must have an honest and accountable representative in Congress,” she stated. “If a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it.”
And on Thursday, the Queens County district legal professional’s workplace stated it was trying into whether or not any legal guidelines had been damaged by Santos.
“We are reviewing whether Queens County has jurisdiction over any potential criminal offenses,” stated a spokesperson for the company, who didn’t need to be named as a result of they had been talking about an open investigation.
Rep.-elect Nick LaLota, a Republican whose district borders Santos’, issued an announcement Wednesday calling for an ethics investigation into the allegations. “New Yorkers deserve the truth and House Republicans deserve an opportunity to govern without this distraction.”
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Associated Press writers Bobby Caina Calvan in New York and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”