George Santos will not go quietly.
In what may be his final congressional press conference, the embattled Long Island Republican on Thursday urged his fellow lawmakers to reject the precedent that would be set by “bullying” him out of office with a removal vote — before introducing his own resolution to oust Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for falsely pulling a fire alarm two months ago.
“It’s just an unfortunate situation that I have to sit here and watch … Congress waste the time of the American people over and over again on something that is the power of the people,” Santos, 35, told reporters during a chilly, early-morning availability outside. Capitol.
“They tried to join me in the group of three Confederates and two people who were convicted in a court of law,” he said of the effort to oust him.
“So, if I am fired tomorrow, I will be number six in history – the first and only Republican without a conviction or without committing treason,” Santos added.
Rep. George Santos (R-NY), in what may be his last congressional press conference, urged House lawmakers to consider the precedent set by “bullying” him out of office with a removal vote. AFP via Getty Images A Long Island congressman says he will introduce his own resolution to remove Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for falsely issuing a fire alarm two months ago. ZUMAPRESS.com
When asked why he did not resign, Santos replied: “Because if I leave, they win. If I leave, bullying happens — this is bullying.”
“Now if it’s someone else, if it’s one of the members of the media, if it’s a Republican member of Congress, we all know that person will be charged with obstruction of congressional hearings,” he said. referring to Bowman.
“Same as 140 people sitting in jail right now because of Jan. 6, but Jamaal Bowman got a pass.”
When asked why he did not resign, Santos replied: “Because if I leave, they win. If I leave, bullying happens — this is bullying.” AFP via Getty Images
Santos said his proposed expulsion of Bowman was intended to “keep the playing field level.”
In a statement, Bowman responded: “No one in Congress, or anywhere in America, is taking soon-to-be former Congressman George Santos seriously. This is just another meaningless stunt in his long history of ugliness, antics and outright deception.”
Santos, who fabricated details about his personal and professional history while running for Congress in 2022, said the move to oust him “will haunt” future House lawmakers, leaving “mere allegations [be] sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts.”
The lying Long Island congressman, who fabricated details about his personal and professional history while running for Congress in 2022, said a move to oust him “will haunt” the House. Getty Images
Santos also dismissed the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into him as a “slanderous report” after it revealed new campaign finance violations not yet contained in his 23-count indictment from the Eastern District of New York.
“No good cop is going to take this to the prosecutor or the DA and say, ‘Here’s our report. Go ahead and charge him,'” he snarled.
“This is what the Ethics Committee submitted,” he added. “God bless them and what they think they are doing and what their work is. You know, I believe they do a good job when it comes down to it, but this is not it.”
On the House floor, Santos reiterated his innocence and accused the ethics committee of rushing their investigation in an attempt to unfairly remove him from Congress.
Several prominent Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Clay Higgins of Lousiana sat with Long Island lawmakers in the chamber in a show of solidarity, with Higgins even offering Santos a fist bump.
Gaetz, who led the charge to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, told colleagues that he was not speaking in defense of Santos, but to uphold precedent, pointing out that the new lawmaker had not been convicted of a crime.
“Whatever Mr. Santos does with Botox or OnlyFans is of less concern to me than the allegations against Senator Menendez, who is holding gold bars with Arabic written on them from Egypt while he’s still getting a classified briefing today,” Gaetz said.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Tx) echoed Gaetz’s concerns about setting an insufficient precedent, though initially mistakenly referring to Santos as Democratic megadonor George Soros.
“In this country, I think everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Nehls said.
Santos announced after his ethics investigation that he would not run again in 2024, but refused to resign. Getty Images
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) countered the argument by claiming such a precedent would elevate Congress and prevent bad actors from getting involved in government.
“If we have the opportunity in this great institution to start a new precedent that means we put members of the House of Representatives on a higher level, ladies and gentlemen, I’m pretty sure the American people will applaud it,” he said. , adding accusations that Santos abused his public office for personal gain.
Both Republicans and Democrats expressed their alleged support for removing Santos from public office, with many pointing to the various lies he has told since he began the 2020 campaign.
Santos however expects that he will be eliminated on Friday. Getty Images
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) slammed Santos as “divorced from reality.”
In a statement before the report was released, the House panel announced that it had “contacted approximately 40 witnesses, reviewed more than 170,000 pages of documents, and authorized 37 subpoenas” for the investigation.
A thorough investigation revealed Santos had spent campaign funds on luxury trips, spa treatments, Botox and OnlyFans subscriptions, in addition to falsifying loans and omitting line items from federal campaign filings.
Santos mentioned during the press conference that fellow New York GOP representative Nick LaLota “said he had 150 [Republican] vote.” AP
Santos told reporters that he had cooperated with the investigation and provided most of the requested documents through his lawyer.
The same committee voted last week against opening an investigation into Bowman for falsely setting off a fire alarm in a House office building while the lower house was preparing to vote on a bill to avert a partial government shutdown on Sept. 30.
The “Squad” member pleaded guilty to misconduct last month and agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for the incident. As part of a deal with DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, Bowman’s charges will be dismissed after three months.
Two-thirds of House members must vote to remove Santos, meaning only about 80 Republicans need to join all Democrats to seal the ouster. Rod Lamkey – CNP
Santos announced after his ethics investigation that he would not run again in 2024, but refused to resign.
He, however, expects that he will be ousted on Friday, mentioning during a press conference that fellow New York GOP representative Nick LaLota “said he has 150 [Republican] vote.”
Two-thirds of House members must vote to remove Santos, meaning only about 80 Republicans need to join all Democrats to seal the ouster.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
