Rep. George Santos accused of sexual harassment

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• An ex-staffer accused Rep. George Santos of sexual harassment and violation of pay rules.
• Ex-staffer Derek Myers said that Santos touched his inner thigh and groin while they were in his office.
• Myers said that he was released from employment after working for several days without compensation.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has been accused of sexual harassment and violation of pay rules. Ex-staffer Derek Myers filed an ethics complaint against the congressman, accusing him of touching his groin, inviting him over, and violating House ethics’ rules of compensation.

Myers, 20, shared his complaint in a Twitter thread on Friday. He said that he filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics as well as the U.S. Capitol Police.

Myers wrote that he was hired as an assistant to Santos on Jan. 23.

Two days later, he said that the congressman told him that he had Grindr, an LGBTQ+ dating app, and asked him if he also had a profile.

Later that day, the two of them were going over mail in the congressman’s office when Santos asked him to sit next to him on a small couch.

Myers said that the congressman placed his hand on his knee and asked, “Hey buddy, we’re going to karaoke tonight. Would you like to go?” Myers declined, saying that he was not a good singer and that he was not a fan of clubs and bars.

He wrote, “The Congressman proceeded to take his hand and move it down my leg into my inner thigh and proceeded to touch my groin.”

He added that Santos asked him if he would like to come over since his husband was out of town.

Myers added that he was given the title of “volunteer” despite being hired as a staffer, and was told he would be working voluntarily until the paperwork for his employment could be processed. He only realized later on that this violated House ethics rules.

Myers requested an investigation into “allowing a volunteer to work in the workplace and offload work from paid staff members onto the volunteer with the promise of future employment.”

His position was rescinded on Wednesday over accusations that Myers was secretly wiretapping Santos. Myers used to be a local journalist in Ohio and was arrested in November for wiretapping after publishing recorded audio of courtroom testimony submitted by a source.

While Myers told Santos he would never record him, he later leaked a recording of a conversation to the press. The congressman was heard saying, “And I’ve obviously f––ed up and lied to him, like I lied to everyone else,” referring to his chief of staff.

Santos has been facing calls for resignation from members of Congress and most of his fellow New York lawmakers after several reports exposed his numerous lies and alleged scams. Last month, he stepped down from his committee assignments but said that he would return once he resolves legal and ethics complaints.

Source: Fox News