JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

Public tension between Representative George Santos (NY-03) and fellow Republicans continues to heat up as spring slowly heads to Long Island.

Firstly, the House Ethics Committee announced in the beginning of March that it has opened a formal investigation into Rep. Santos, seeking to examine via investigative subcommittee whether Santos “engaged in unlawful activity” during his 2022 run for Congress.

As NPR reported, “The probe will also determine whether Santos violated federal conflict of interest laws and whether he “engaged in sexual misconduct” toward an individual who was seeking a job in the freshman congressman’s House office. Santos has denied that allegation.”

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The official portrait of U.S. Representative George Santos (R, NY-03).

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The Ethics Committee noted in its statement that opening an investigation “does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.” On Twitter, a statement posted to Santos’ account said the congressman is “fully cooperating,” with “no further comment made at this time.”

Public displays of distancing have also increased from both local and national electeds, including Santos’ Republican peers.

On March 7, Representative Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) introduced a pair of bills, entitled the “No Fame for Fraud Resolution” and the “No Fortune for Fraud Act,” which seem to directly target Rep. Santos, whether it passes or simply stands on record.

Fellow Republican Reps. Nick Lalota, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Nick Langworthy and Brandon Williams co-sponsored the package of bills.

D’Esposito and colleagues said the bills would prevent members of Congress who violate certain election laws and other federal statutes from receiving compensation for ‘selling their story’ in the form of books, public appearances, and so on.

As Victor Nava reported for the New York Post, Rep. Lalota (NY-01) referenced Santos directly during a press conference: “He’s trying to use his new infamy to enrich himself, to further what he set out to do three years ago, to use his persona as a public figure to enrich himself.” Santos responded with criticism of his Nassau County neighbor, D’Esposito, in short order on Twitter.

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