The House Ethics Committee has discovered significant evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law by indicted New York Congressman George Santos and has referred the matter to the Justice Department. In response to the committee’s report, Santos announced that he would be dropping his bid for reelection in 2024.
The committee, consisting of six House members equally divided between the two parties, unanimously concluded that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission. They also found that he used campaign funds for personal purposes, engaged in fraudulent conduct with RedStone Strategies LLC, and willfully violated the Ethics in Government Act in relation to his Financial Disclosure Statements filed with the House.
The ISC report revealed that Santos moved funds donated to his campaign to his personal checking accounts on multiple occasions. He used the money for various personal expenses, including purchases at luxury store Hermès, OnlyFans, Sephora, meals, parking, and to pay off his credit card bills. His FEC reports included payments for Botox, a luxurious vacation in the Hamptons, taxis, hotel stays during his Las Vegas honeymoon, and spa treatments.
The report recommended that the allegations against Santos be immediately referred to the Department of Justice due to the ongoing criminal investigation and the ISC’s findings of additional uncharged and unlawful conduct by the congressman.
Santos was arrested in May on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. In October, additional charges related to an identity theft and money laundering scheme involving his campaign were added to the indictment.
While the committee did not recommend expulsion or other disciplinary actions against Santos, they acknowledged that his conduct warrants public condemnation and has severely discredited the House.
Santos recently survived a vote for his expulsion in the House. Republicans had previously indicated that they would wait for the Ethics Committee’s recommendation before taking any action against Santos. With a slim majority and a history of protecting their own, the House GOP may choose to simply wait out his term.
Original Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/house-ethics-committee-george-santos-reelection-2024-1307036/
