A long list of Republican lawmakers from New York announced Wednesday a demand that Rep. George Santos resign over numerous lies. Several of the officials called the congressman a liar who has violated “public trust.”
“He’s disgraced the House of Representatives, and we do not consider him one of our congresspeople,” Nassau County Republican Party Chairman Joseph Cairo said of Santos at a press conference.
Supervisor of the town of Oyster Bay Joe Saladino said, “Our residents deserve better, much better … multiple investigations are underway and await those outcomes.” He added: “George, I’m speaking to you, it’s time to step down.”
RELATED STORY: George Santos staffer accused of impersonating Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff in calls with donors
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Mayor of Glen Cove Pamela Panzenbeck said: “We were all duped. […] George needs to step down immediately, right after this press conference.”
Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell said that in her dealings with the public, she is asked daily about Santos. “Imagine lying about your credentials. It’s unacceptable and this man must resign immediately.”
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin called Santos “a national joke” and, worse, an “international joke.”
Santos has apologized to anyone who has been “disappointed by resume embellishments” but has denied committing any crimes, CNBC reports.
A complaint was filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission accusing Santos of a plethora of campaign finance violations, The Washington Post reports. Filed by the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, the complaint could launch an investigation by the federal regulator.
“Particularly in light of Santos’s mountain of lies about his life and qualifications for office, the Commission should thoroughly investigate what appear to be equally brazen lies about how his campaign raised and spent money,” the complaint argues.
To add insult to injury, along with the ubiquitous lies that have emerged from the congressman’s lips, CNBC reported Monday that during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles a member of Santos’ campaign team had a plan to dupe donors by impersonating Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s chief of staff, Dan Meyer.
The staffer’s name was actually Sam Miele, according to CNBC.
Santos is already embroiled in an investigation by the Nassau County, New York, district attorney’s office and authorities in Brazil involving a fraud case dating back to 2008.
According to NBC News, it’s not just local New York Republicans who are asking for Santos’ resignation.
Democrats and Republicans alike are saying Santos having access to classified information would be a threat to national security. Even House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in no uncertain terms that the congressman should not be seated on any high-level committees. McCarthy desperately needed Santos in his quest for House speaker—and earned his vote along with what appeared to be a racist hand signal. Now that he's got the gavel, McCarthy has little use for Santos.
“We cannot put our nation at risk by allowing Mr. Santos to sustain access to classified information or appointment to any Congressional Committee that may require this information,” a group of House Democrats warned Tuesday.
One unnamed House Republican told NBC News specifically that Santos "probably shouldn't be on Intelligence or HASC [the House Armed Services Committee.]"
Santos told press Wednesday he will not resign. "I will not. I will not," he told reporters.
