New York Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Ritchie Torres on Sunday called on House GOP leaders to reveal what they know about newly elected Rep. George Santos’ (RN.Y.) lies, including about his education and employment record.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), chairwoman of the House Republican Conference; and Dan Conston, who leads the Congressional Leadership Fund PAC, two Democrats demanded they “proactively and forthrightly cooperate” with the current and future probe into Santos.
“It is one thing for candidates such as Mr. Santos to induce voters to support people based on a web of lies,” wrote the legislator. “But it’s not like top Republican leaders knew about Mr. Santos’ lies during the campaign and chose to be complicit.”
Santos admitted after his election victory in November that he had lied about his background. Goldman and Torres noted reports in The New York Times and New York Post that several top GOP aides had been alerted to Santos’ fabrications before the election.
The Times said Santos’ campaign “studied vulnerabilities” revealing his academic record, involvement with companies that were part of a Ponzi scheme and multiple evictions, the Times reported. Several campaign staffers quit after the study’s results.
Stefanik’s top assistant helped Santos find a new consultant in early 2022, according to the report. GOP donors have also reportedly expressed concerns about Santos to Stefanik’s colleagues. Stefanik, one of Santos’ main supporters during the race, has yet to comment.
“In order for the Ethics Committee to carry out a thorough investigation, and for Congress to ensure that its members follow the law, it is important that Ms. Stefanik share with the Ethics Committee and the public everything that she and her top aides know about Mr. Santos’ fraud network,” wrote Goldman and Torres in the letter.
Conston, who is close to McCarthy, also reportedly raised questions about Santos to lawmakers and staff, the Times reported.
The New York Post reports that senior House GOP members are aware of Santos’ lies and that the topic has become a “running joke.”
Goldman and Torres asked McCarthy to be “transparent about your knowledge of Mr. Santos’ lying site. The American people deserve nothing less than the complete truth.
While many Republicans have called for Santos to resign, McCarthy has refused. Santos supported the bid for speaker.
Santos last month described the many lies as embellishments to the record. He said he would stop only if the 142,000 people who voted for him asked him to resign.
Goldman and Torres have filed a complaint with the House Ethics Committee, alleging Santos violated federal ethics laws. Two New York Democrats on Thursday introduced the SANTOS Act, which threatens to punish congressional candidates who knowingly falsify their resumes with jail time and fines.
Another complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission last week alleges Santos used 2022 campaign funds to pay personal expenses, among other things.