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Friday, November 24, 2023
Vol. 9, No. 47
PortWashingtonTimes Washington SHOP LOCAL
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House Ethics report slams Rep. Santos Chance of expulsion rises following release of evidence of law breaking BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The House Ethics Committee Thursday found “substantial evidence” that embattled Republican Congressman George Santos violated federal law. The 56-page report from investigators concluded that Santos used campaign funds for personal purposes, defrauded donors and filed false or incomplete campaign and financial disclosures. Santos in response to the longawaited report said on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter, that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024 while a third resolution to expel him from Congress was filed Friday. “It is a disgusting politicized smear that shows the depths of how low our federal government has sunk. Everyone who participated in this grave miscarriage of Justice should all be ashamed of themselves,” Santos said on X of the report Thursday, which he called “biased” and a “disgusting politicized smear.” “I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time.” Santos, who represents northern Nassau County and a portion of north-
east Queens, sought to “fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit,” the report said, adding that his campaign was maintained “through a constant series of lies to his constituents, donors, and staff about his background and experience.” The bipartisan committee did not call for the expulsion of Santos–who they said did not fully cooperate with them–following the nine-month investigation but that it planned to immediately refer its findings to the U.S. Department of Justice. Investigators said they found Santos’ conduct to be “beneath the dignity of the office and to have brought severe discredit upon the House.” The report said during Santos’ first bid for Congress in 2020 that he reported lending his own campaign $81,250 through several installments when he only transferred $3,500. After the campaign ended, findings show he repaid himself most of the original fraudulent loans, making $27,700 in profit. During his campaign in 2022, where he successfully flipped a Democrat seat in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, he reported that spring lending his campaign over $700,000, Continued on Page 37
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
Nearly 1,000 supporters gathered at Blumenfeld Family Park in Port Washington to call for the over 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants to return home.
Community calls for hostage release in Gaza BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Spread across the lawn at Blumenfeld Family Park in Port Washington this weekend was a Shabbat dinner table set with Challah bread, wine and flowers. The scene was reminiscent of what so many families on the North Shore have come to expect, especially those who practice Judaism, gathering around the table on Friday nights surrounded by friends, family and loved ones.
Not one of the 240 seats around the table was filled, however. Instead, taped to the back of each chair was a picture of a hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas militants during the surprise attacks in Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, over 40 days ago. “When Shabbat begins on Friday night at sundown, every house becomes its own little sanctuary,” said North Hempstead Council Member Mariann Dalimonte of Port Washington. “It truly truly breaks my heart to see this beautiful Shabbat table
set with so many empty chairs. Each empty chair represents a home with a missing loved one and a family that wants to be reunited.” Those missing were remembered during a candlelight vigil at the park attended by nearly 1,000 people where community leaders, elected officials, neighbors and friends called for the safe release of those being held by Hamas. Each flier included the person’s name, age and nationality. For some Continued on Page 38