GOP Rep Removes Himself From All Committee Assignments Over Lies About Past

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) told House Republicans today that he will step down from his coveted committee assignments amid growing pressure over a series of lies about his past.

Santos, who has admitted to lying about key parts of his background told a closed-door meeting of House Republicans that he would step down from his assignments on the House Small Business Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Santos told his fellow Republicans, who have been stuck defending him, that he is removing himself from the committees because “he’s a distraction.” Santos has been caught in multiple lies about his past and has admitted telling most of them.

A spokesperson for Santos confirmed the decision to step down to NBC saying: “He has reserved to see it until he has been cleared up both campaign and personal financial investigations.

🚨BREAKING — GEORGE SANTOS tells House Republicans he will recuse himself from sitting on committees.

Just happened in closed GOP meeting.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 31, 2023

Santos was a surprise winner in his race as he represented a blue district that voted for Biden. But the people were fed up with the out-of-control crime in the New York area so voted GOP.

His constituents want him to resign from Congress according to a new poll.

According to NBC:

Seventy-eight percent of voters in the state’s 3rd Congressional district want Santos’ resignation (including 89% of Democrats, 72% of independents/others and 71% of Republicans), compared to just 13% who do not want him to step down, according to the latest Newsday/Siena College poll.

Santos is viewed unfavorably by 83% of the voters in the district, according to the poll, a view again shared by the majority of people across partisan stripes (just 7% view him favorably).

More than seven-in-ten voters do not believe he can be an effective representative and that it was wrong for Republican leaders to tap him to serve on his committees.

According to The New York Post:

Santos, 34, elected Nov. 8 to represent a congressional district that stretches between Nassau County and parts of Queens, is facing calls from Democrats and even his fellow Republicans to step down.

He admitted in a December interview with The Post that he falsified his work experience, his educational background, his family’s heritage and his religious affiliation. 

In the weeks since he was sworn-in to Congress on Jan. 7, more questions about his background have surfaced, as has his legal jeopardy as a number of investigations are underway.

NEW: Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos told House Republicans during a closed door meeting that he would recuse himself from sitting on any committees, multiple sources tell @ABC News. https://t.co/jBetRMIlwP

— ABC News (@ABC) January 31, 2023