On Nov. 16, the House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” that U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) violated federal law, setting the stage for another push to expel the embattled gay first-term Congressman and prompting him to declare that he would not seek re-election, The New York Times reported.
The Investigative Subcommittee found evidence that Santos used campaign funds for personal purposes, defrauded donors and filed false or incomplete campaign finance and financial disclosure reports, according to a 56-page report.
The Ethics Committee voted unanimously to refer its findings to the Department of Justice, saying Santos’s conduct “warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office and has brought severe discredit upon the House.”
Santos, 35, who represents parts of Long Island and Queens, already faces a 23-count federal indictment that includes accusations that he stole from his donors and falsified campaign filings.
The House report is at ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-chairman-and-ranking-member-committee-ethics-regarding-representative-76.
—Andrew Davis