Four New York GOP lawmakers call for George Santos to resign

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Four House Republicans are calling on Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to resign from Congress after lying about key details of his background during his campaign.
• The four Republicans are first-term lawmakers hailing from New York.
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he had no intention of pressuring Santos, saying “the voters elected him to serve.”

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) on Wednesday called for fellow Long Island Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to step down over revelations he lied about major details of his resume and background during his campaign.

LaLota said Santos should resign amid an array of probes into his financial disclosures, campaign finances and outstanding legal issues.

“What he’s done is disgraceful, dishonorable and unworthy of the office. I think he should resign,” LaLota said Wednesday.

LaLota said Santos “hasn’t shown any remorse, he hasn’t corrected any of the behavior. He still has antics like showing a white power sign on the House floor. It’s not appropriate for our conference, for our country.”

LaLota became the first House Republican to say Santos should be investigated.

“I hear a lot of feedback from my fellow Long Islanders about us wanting to raise the standard or at least keep some standard among elected officials,” LaLota said.

Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) said in a statement Wednesday that he concurs with the Nassau Republicans’ decision to ask for Santos’s resignation.

“The constituents in NY-3 elected Representative Santos in part due to his biographical exaggerations and apparent deceptions. He must resign,” Williams wrote.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), who is also from Long Island, and New York GOP Chair Rep. Nick Langworthy are also calling for Santos to step down.

Two House Democrats, Reps. Dan Goldman and Ritchie Torres, both of New York, filed a complaint against Santos to the Ethics Committee on Tuesday.

Santos has defied the calls for his resignation, tweeting Wednesday: “I will NOT resign!”

Santos is getting backup from House Republican leadership, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) telling reporters he will get committee seats.

“I try to stick by the Constitution. The voters elected him to serve,” McCarthy said. “If there is a concern, he has to go through the Ethics [Committee]; let him move through that. But right now, the voters have a voice in the decision. It’s not where people pick and choose based upon what somebody’s press has. So he will continue to serve.”

Source: Yahoo! News