The U.S. Home ethics committee in a scathing report Thursday mentioned it has amassed “overwhelming proof” of lawbreaking by Rep. George Santos of New York that has been despatched to the U.S. Justice Division, concluding flatly that the Republican “can’t be trusted” after a months-long investigation into his conduct.
Shortly after the panel’s report was launched, Santos blasted it as a “politicized smear” in a social media post however mentioned that he wouldn’t be searching for re-election to a second time period. He gave no indication he would step apart earlier than his time period ends subsequent 12 months, vowing to pursue his “conservative values in my remaining time in Congress.”
However a renewed effort to expel him from the Home was shortly launched. The Home might vote on his expulsion as quickly because it returns from the Thanksgiving vacation later this month.
The panel mentioned that Santos knowingly precipitated his marketing campaign committee to file false or incomplete stories with the Federal Election Fee; used marketing campaign funds for private functions; and engaged in violations of the Ethics in Authorities Act because it pertains to monetary disclosure statements filed with the Home.
Santos ‘evaded’ inquiry’s requests
The ethics panel’s report additionally detailed Santos’s lack of co-operation with its investigation and the way he “evaded” easy requests for info. “Notably troubling was Consultant Santos’ lack of candour through the investigation itself,” the committee decided.
The data that he did present, in response to the committee, “included materials misstatements that additional superior falsehoods he made throughout his 2022 marketing campaign.”
The report says that an investigative subcommittee determined to forgo bringing formal prices as a result of it could have resulted in a “prolonged trial-like public adjudication and sanctions listening to” that solely would have given Santos “additional alternative to delay any accountability.”
The committee determined as an alternative to ship the total report back to the Home. It urges Home members “to take any motion they deem acceptable and mandatory” primarily based on the report.
Separate felony indictment
The findings by the investigative panel will be the least of Santos’s worries.
The congressman faces a 23-count federal indictment that alleges he stole the identities of marketing campaign donors after which used their bank cards to make tens of hundreds of {dollars} in unauthorized prices.
Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has pleaded not guilty, wired among the cash to his private checking account and used the remainder to pad his marketing campaign coffers.
Santos, who represents elements of Queens and Lengthy Island, can be accused of falsely reporting to the Federal Elections Fee that he had loaned his marketing campaign $500,000 US when he really hadn’t given something and had lower than $8,000 within the financial institution.
The faux mortgage was an try and persuade Republican Social gathering officers that he was a critical candidate, price their monetary assist, the indictment says.
The Justice Division declined to remark in regards to the ethics report, as did the Brooklyn U.S. lawyer’s workplace, which is dealing with the case in opposition to Santos.
Earlier this week, a former fundraiser for Santos pleaded responsible to a federal wire fraud cost, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide whereas elevating marketing campaign money for the congressman.
Santos simply survived a vote earlier this month to expel him from the Home as most Republicans and 31 Democrats opted to withhold punishment whereas each his felony trial and the Home Ethics Committee investigation continued.