CNN
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Rep. George Santos, the lately elected GOP congressman from New York who has admitted to lying about parts of his resume, defended himself and his file on Tuesday as two House Democrats filed an ethics complaint in opposition to him.
New York Democratic Reps. Ritchie Torres and Daniel Goldman introduced on Tuesday that they’re submitting a proper complaint with the House Ethics Committee requesting an investigation associated to Santos’s monetary disclosure studies.
Santos on Tuesday insisted that he’s “done nothing unethical” and disregarded any concern in regards to the ethics complaint.
“They’re free to do whatever they want to do,” he stated about Democratic colleagues asserting they’re submitting a complaint in opposition to him. “I’ve done nothing unethical.”
In a letter, Torres and Goldman write that they’re requesting an investigation of Santos “for violations of the Ethics in Government Act by failing to file timely, accurate, and complete financial disclosure reports as required by law.”
The House Ethics Committee declined to touch upon the matter to CNN.
CNN has additionally reached out to the congressman’s workplace to request for touch upon the ethics complaint.
CNN reported final month that federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Santos’s funds. Separately, CNN has reported that Santos’s marketing campaign funds present dozens of bills slightly below the FEC’s threshold to maintain receipts.
Santos has confronted rising criticism from congressional Democrats, and a few Republicans, after he admitted to fabricating sections of his resume – together with his previous work expertise and schooling.
CNN’s KFile uncovered even more falsehoods from Santos, together with claims he was pressured to depart a New York City personal faculty when his household’s actual property property took a downturn and stating he represented Goldman Sachs at a high monetary convention.
In a separate matter, CNN reported that regulation enforcement officers in Brazil will reinstate fraud fees in opposition to Santos. Prosecutors stated they are going to search a “formal response” from Santos associated to a stolen checkbook in 2008, after police suspended an investigation into him as a result of they had been unable to seek out him for almost a decade.
Santos admitted to stealing a person’s checkbook that was in his mom’s possession to buy clothes and sneakers in 2008, according to documents obtained by CNN.
When requested by CNN what one of the best end result can be to this complaint, Torres stated on Tuesday, “The best outcome is accountability. We have to send a message that if you defraud the voters, you’re going to be held accountable.”
Goldman added this investigation “calls on the House to police its own. Because if we are to have credibility, if we are to have integrity, if this body is to gain the trust of the American people, then we need to ensure that its members are following the ethics rules of this body that we are all required to uphold.”
Goldman confirmed House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is conscious of the complaint.
“I think what you will find among all of the Democrats in our caucus is complete disbelief that George Santos is still a member of Congress,” he stated.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stated Tuesday that GOP management plans to handle Santos “internally.”
In response to Santos saying he has carried out nothing “unethical,” Torres stated, “If that’s true, the investigation will exonerate him. He has nothing to fear from the truth.”
When pressed about how he lied about his resume, Santos as soon as once more on Tuesday stated he’d handle the falsehoods at a later date.
“Look, I’ve already said I’ll be addressing the media in a short time. So I would appreciate you guys give that time and we’ll be talking to all of you guys soon.”
When pressed for when that later date can be, Santos would solely repeat, “Soon.”
He additionally stated he’s made no preferences for committee assignments, saying “I’ll take whatever I get. I’m not a picky person. I came here to serve the people.”