Topline
Embattled New York Rep. George Santos (R) filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission Tuesday, a signal the congressman intends to run for reelection in 2024 after months of lies about his past led to a House Ethics probe and calls from fellow Republicans not to run again.
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., waits for the start of a session in the House chamber.
Key Facts
Santos signed the paperwork Tuesday, after the FEC said he crossed a fundraising threshold and asked him last month to formally declare whether he intended to run again.
The FEC filing means Santos intends to run but does not mean Santos is definitely running.
Last week when asked by CNN if he would run for reelection, he said “maybe,” and reportedly acknowledged the repeated calls from fellow Republicans not to run again.
Forbes could not immediately reach Santos for comment.
Key Background
The FEC sent Santos a letter last month asking him to clarify whether he was running for reelection in 2024, after he raised more than $5,000 after the midterm elections, CNN reported. FEC rules state that any individual who raises or spends over $5,000 has to register as a candidate within 15 days of reaching that threshold. The letter said Santos had until March 14 to file his intent to run for reelection. The FEC sent Santos another letter in mid-February saying he’d be unable to receive donations or spend money from his campaign account without hiring a new campaign treasurer, after his former treasurer stepped down at the end of January. A few days later an FEC filing showed Santos named Andrew Olson as his new campaign treasurer.
Chief Critic
Multiple Republican congressmen from New York have said Santos should not be on the ballot again in 2024. Rep. March Molinaro told CNN he’d vote to expel Santos if a resolution came to the House floor, adding, “George Santos will not be on any ticket in 2024.” Meanwhile, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito told CNN, “we’ll do everything in our power to make sure we have the right candidate, the honest candidate, the truthful candidate, and the one who was honest about his entire being.” Leaders of the Nassau County Republican Party have also called for Santos to resign.
News Peg
Santos’ tenure in Congress has been mired by scandal after reports of repeated lies about his personal background and calls to resign from members of both sides of the aisle. Among the many lies, Santos said his mother was “in the South Tower” on 9/11 and later succumbed to cancer, despite Santos’ mother’s 2003 green card application saying she hadn’t been in the U.S. since 1999. The congressman also claimed he was Jewish and his maternal grandparents fled Ukraine to escape anti-Jewish persecution, despite reports both his grandparents were born in Brazil.
Tangent
Earlier this month, the House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to open an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations against Santos. If the committee finds that Santos—who said he was fully cooperating with the investigation—broke the law, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters Santos would be removed from congress.
Big Number
78%. That’s the percentage of voters in Santos’ district who think he should resign, according to a January Newsday/Siena College poll.
Furter Reading
George Santos Could Be Banned From Fundraising By The FEC—Even As He Weighs Reelection (Forbes)
House Ethics Committee Opens Santos Investigation: Here’s Everything The Embattled Congressman Has Lied About (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/03/14/george-santos-files-for-2024-reelection/