January 1, House Ethics Committee Launches Investigation into Rep. George Santos

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1801: Thomas Jefferson is the first U.S. President to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.

Embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is officially under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over exaggerations and fabrications he made during his congressional campaign.

“The House Committee on Ethics has opened an investigation, and Congressman George Santos is fully cooperating,” Santos said in a statement on Twitter. “There will be no further comment made at this time.”

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee, comprised of five Republicans and five Democrats, voted unanimously to create a subcommittee to investigate Santos. The panel announced the probe on Thursday.

Specifically, the investigation will examine various allegations, including “unlawful activity,” erroneous financial disclosures, and federal conflict of interest law violations, Axios reported.

The congressman’s troubles began about a month after he was elected, when the New York Times reported that he had lied about his background. Various inconsistencies have since emerged. Santos is currently under federal investigation over his campaign finances and alleged role in a fundraising scheme for a disabled veteran’s dog.

Santos is under investigation by the district attorney in Nassau County, New York, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

“This ethics investigation is long overdue and I look forward to a swift and thorough review,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who’s previously called on Santos to resign. “As I’ve said before, George Santos’ conduct is embarrassing and unbecoming. If he had any dignity, he would resign,”

In January, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said: “If … when we go through Ethics and he has broken the law, then we will remove him.”

Source: Axios