Ethics Committee Delivers Damning Report Criticizing Santos

Rep. George Santos was slammed by the House ethics committee in a damning report that is sure to lead to a new effort to expel the scandal-tarred Long Island Republican from Congress. “Rep. Santos’s conduct warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office and has brought severe disrepute on the House,” according to the report.

The report accuses Santos of shamelessly using his congressional campaign as a personal piggy bank, and states that he placed his desire for private gain above his duty to uphold the Constitution, federal law, and ethical principles. The report makes no recommendation about any punishment for Santos, and the committee’s leaders said making such a recommendation would have delayed the report for several months.

The panel plans to share the information gathered in its probe with federal prosecutors, who could file even more charges against Santos. Santos is currently awaiting a federal criminal trial on fraud and campaign finance charges.

He vows to run for reelection and has rejected widespread calls for him to resign the seat representing a Democratic-leaning district spanning the North Shore and a slice of eastern Queens. Despite facing serious allegations, Santos beat back an effort to expel him from the House of Representatives last month.

However, a new expulsion effort could come as soon as when Congress returns from its Thanksgiving break. Expelling Santos would take a two-thirds vote, and a surprising number of Democrats sided with most establishment Republicans in opposing the move to boot him.