Ethics Committee Is Quickest Way To Rid Santos 'Stain': LI Lawmaker

WANTAGH, NY — Congressman George Santos says he still plans on running for another term representing the 3rd District, despite comments from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

When asked if he'd support a Santos reelection campaign, the House Speaker told Fox & Friends, "No, I am not. No, he shouldn’t run for reelection." McCarthy added that the GOP will hold the seat "with another Republican."

Santos fired back in a tweet on Monday: "Speaker McCarthy's comments do not change my intention of running."

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park) says he supports expulsion for Santos but without the votes, his hands were tied.

"It's not an up and down vote, it's a two-thirds vote," D'Esposito told Patch. "There was a whipping process done and the leadership felt that we didn't have the two-thirds vote."

Knowing that it wouldn't have passed, "George Santos would have been in the same position he's in now," he added. "I truly believe that this is the quickest way to rid the stain that is George Santos from the United States House of Representatives forever."

D'Esposito said members from the New York delegation, in effect, sent it back to the House Ethics Committee. The committee, which launched an investigation into Santos in March, announced last week it issued more than 30 subpoenas connected to the inquiry, Politico reported.

While taking the temperature of the lawmakers, D'Esposito said, several unidentified members want the process to fully play out.

"I personally think that George Santos is a different case. He has not only committed crimes, but he has completely fabricated his entire story," D'Esposito said.

The freshman congressman was arraigned last month on federal money laundering, fraud and making false statements to the House.

D'Esposito, who serves much of Nassau County's South Shore, said Santos misrepresented himself to voters.

"That's really the issue here," he said.

D'Esposito wants the Ethics Committee to be thorough but expedient.

"Not that George Santos has any shame, but my hope is that he sees this as a 'hurry up' to maybe make a deal with prosecutors."

Dear Media,

I plan on continuing to serve the people of NY3. Providing excellent constituent services to the people of NY03 and proposing common sense conservative legislation for the betterment of our nation. Speaker McCarthy’s comments do not change my intention of running.
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) June 26, 2023