A growing number of Republican lawmakers in New York are calling for the resignation of Rep. George Santos, the newly sworn-in member of Congress who admitted to lying about key details of his background.
At least four New York House Republicans have called for Santos to resign, following a call from Nassau County GOP officials on Wednesday.
“George Santos’ campaign last year was a campaign of deception, lies, and fabrication,” county GOP Chairman Joe Cairo said at a news conference with other party officials.
Cairo chastised Santos for “disgraced” the House and declared that he is “not welcome here at Republican headquarters.”
“We do not consider him one of our congresspeople,” Cairo stated.
Cairo cited a number of false claims made by Santos, including his previous claims of Jewish ancestry. Cairo also told reporters that Santos lied to the local GOP about being a volleyball “star” at Baruch College who led his team to a “league championship.”
Santos, on the other hand, isn’t backing down, saying in a tweet that he has no plans to resign.
Freshman Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., who was also recently sworn in and is the chair of the state Republican Party, said in a statement Wednesday that he supports Cairo’s decision to request Santos’ resignation.
“It’s clear that he cannot be an effective representative, and it would be in the best interests of taxpayers to have new leadership,” Langworthy said. “I will continue to work with our local elected officials to restore trust and dignity to the 3rd Congressional District.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a first-term Republican whose district borders Santos’, joined the Cairo news conference virtually. “At this point, I don’t think George Santos can move forward as a member of Congress,” he said.
“As more revelations become public, I concur with the Nassau Republicans’ decision to request George Santos’ resignation,” said Republican Rep. Brandon Williams of New York in a statement. The constituents of NY-3 elected Representative Santos in part because of his biographical exaggerations and apparent deceptions. He must resign.”
In an interview with Axios, Rep. Nick LaLota, R-NY, said Santos should resign. LaLota’s office later confirmed his comments to NBC News.
However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Cairo’s call for Santos’ resignation has no bearing on his decision.
“I try to uphold the Constitution. “The voters chose him to serve,” McCarthy said. “If there is a concern, he has to go through the Ethics [Committee]; let him move through that. However, voters now have a say in the matter. It’s not a place where people pick and choose based on what someone’s press has. So he will continue to serve.”
When asked if he trusts Santos, McCarthy replied, “Look, he’s going to have to build trust here, and he’ll have the opportunity to try to do that.”
Throughout the news conference on Wednesday, other local party officials slammed Santos.
When asked why Santos was urged to resign after being sworn in, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated that he believes in due process but that the situation became “untenable” when Santos admitted to lying.
“He needs help,” Blakeman said, accusing Santos of being a “outright liar.”
Santos took office after McCarthy was elected speaker last week. McCarthy was elected by Santos.
The Nassau County GOP’s demand for Santos’ resignation could put pressure on McCarthy, who leads a slim GOP majority that includes a group of detractors who have threatened to derail his leadership bid.
When Santos arrived in Congress, most Republicans appeared to give him the cold shoulder. During the numerous rounds of speaker votes last week, Santos was frequently seen sitting alone.
Since then, House Republicans haven’t warmed up to Santos.
McCarthy said earlier Wednesday that Santos should not be on any top committees as he prepared to attend a GOP Steering Committee meeting where members decide which colleagues should serve on which committees.
When asked whether Santos should resign, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., also refused to defend him. “Obviously, some conversations are taking place right now,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Following the Nassau County GOP news conference, state Republicans began calling for Santos’ resignation.
In a statement, the New York State Conservative Party stated that it supports the Nassau County GOP.
“Mr. Santos’ profound use of mistruths as a candidate morally disqualifies him from serving in public office and exposes him to potential legal action, seriously compromising his ability to represent his constituents,” Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said.
Some congressional Republicans shared their concerns, though most stopped short of calling for his resignation.
“I don’t think he should be here. But there is a process in place that must apply equally to all members of both parties in both chambers,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said, adding that “we should just have an expedited review” of Santos’ “egregious” behaviour.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, also slammed Santos, saying his “entire life and résumé were manufactured.”
“It is deeply troubling to have someone like that in our body,” Mace said in an interview, adding that she supported an Ethics Committee investigation. “It could, and probably will, take a few months. It’ll all work out in the end.”
Nassau County Republicans initially backed Santos in the 2022 election cycle. However, after Santos admitted to lying about parts of his resume, including his education and employment history, county Republicans condemned his actions.
“Congressman-elect George Santos has violated the public trust by making serious misstatements about his background, experience, and education, among other issues,” Cairo said in a statement last month.
The Nassau County officials’ request comes amid several investigations into Santos’ campaign and other calls for him to resign.
Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Ritchie Torres of New York filed a complaint Tuesday requesting that the House Ethics Committee investigate Santos for his “failure to file timely, accurate, and complete financial disclosure reports.”
In their complaint, Goldman and Torres claim Santos violated the Ethics in Government Act, citing recent reports as well as Santos’ own admission that he “misled voters in his district about his ethnicity, religion, education, and employment and professional history, among other things.” They also cited Santos’ financial disclosure reports for 2020 and 2022, which they described as “sparse and perplexing.”
“George Santos is a man without a country,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., said in an interview Wednesday. “The GOP is turning on him. Democrats clearly do not want him. His supporters do not support him. Oh my goodness, this guy is incredible.”
