Rep. George Santos Declines Re-election Bid Following Damning Ethics Investigation

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The House Ethics Committee, in a damning report released Thursday, concluded that Republican Rep. George Santos of New York has engaged in numerous illegal activities. The report, which has been forwarded to the Justice Department, unequivocally states that Santos is untrustworthy following an extensive inquiry into his actions.

Reacting to the committee’s findings, Santos denounced the report on X as a politically motivated attack. However, he announced he would not run for a second term, making no mention of resigning before his current term concludes. He affirmed his commitment to championing conservative ideals during his remaining tenure in Congress.

This development spurred immediate calls for his removal from the House, with discussions about a vote on his expulsion possibly occurring after the Thanksgiving break.

The committee accused Santos of directing his campaign to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, misusing campaign funds for personal use, and breaching the Ethics in Government Act regarding financial disclosures to the House.

An investigative subcommittee detailed Santos’ exploitation of his candidacy for personal financial gain in a 56-page report, unanimously adopted by the full committee.

The report also highlighted Santos’ lack of cooperation, noting his evasion of requests for information and his misleading testimony during the investigation.

The committee also noted Santos’ failure to provide a signed statement, documents, or an oath statement. The information he did supply contained significant misrepresentations, further perpetuating falsehoods from his 2022 campaign.

The panel expressed difficulties in confirming the legitimacy of some campaign expenses due to Santos’ non-cooperation. They pointed out questionable expenses, including luxury resort stays and a skin spa treatment, which lacked clear campaign-related purposes.

The investigation further revealed transfers of at least $200,000 from Florida’s RedStone Strategies LLC to Santos’ personal accounts, which were initially intended for political purposes. These funds were used by Santos for various personal expenses, including luxury goods, adult content subscriptions, and everyday purchases.

The Ethics Committee determined Santos’ actions deserve public denunciation, as they dishonor his office and discredit the House.

Additionally, Santos faces a 23-count federal indictment for identity theft and unauthorized credit card charges involving tens of thousands of dollars. The indictment includes charges of falsely reporting a $500,000 loan to his campaign and less than $8,000 in his bank account, in an attempt to gain support from Republican Party officials.

The Justice Department and the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office, handling Santos’ case, declined to comment on the ethics report.

In a related development, a former Santos fundraiser recently admitted to wire fraud, falsely claiming to be a high-ranking congressional aide to solicit campaign funds.

Despite earlier survival of a House expulsion vote, the Ethics Committee’s report may significantly impact Santos’ position. Notable Democrats on the committee, such as Rep. Susan Wild and Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina, expressed their intentions to vote for Santos’ expulsion following the report’s revelations. Similarly, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York called for Santos’ immediate resignation or expulsion.

Expulsion, a rare punitive action in the House’s history, could affect the GOP’s slim majority. Many New York Republicans support Santos’ removal to distance themselves from his misconduct.

Despite declaring no re-election plans, Santos’ campaign already faced financial shortcomings, with reports indicating only about $28,000 in funds as of the end of the last fundraising quarter.

For more detailed coverage on U.S. Rep. George Santos, visit https://bigbignews.net/george-santos.

This report includes contributions from Big Big News staff writers Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri, and Lisa Mascaro.

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More about George Santos Ethics Report

• House Ethics Committee Report on George Santos
• George Santos’ Response to Ethics Allegations
• Federal Indictment Against George Santos
• History of Expulsions in the U.S. House
• GOP Response to George Santos’ Conduct
• Campaign Finance Violations Explained
• Impact of George Santos Scandal on Congress
• Legal Process in Congressional Ethics Cases