Embattled House GOP Rep. George Santos (R-NY) told his GOP colleagues he is recusing himself from his committee assignments during a closed-door conference meeting on Tuesday, per two sources in the room.
According to one senior GOP source, the New York lawmaker, who has come under fire for fabricating large parts of his background, including his work history, education, finances, and heritage, went up to the mics and said, “he’s going to recuse himself from being sat on committees after meeting with Kevin [McCarthy] last night.”
NEW YORK HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON MCCARTHY NOT TO GRANT SANTOS ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Santos also requested that his “committee seats could be reserved until everything clears up.” He was named to the Small Business Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee earlier this month.
Santos is currently facing multiple investigations and has faced scrutiny for potential campaign finance violations and allegedly committing check fraud in Brazil.
“I met with George Santos yesterday, and I think it was an appropriate decision that until he could clear everything up, he’s off committees right now,” McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday.
“It’s the right decision,” GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, one of Santos’s New York colleagues, said in response to the recusal.
Santos said his decision to recuse himself from committee assignments is temporary, telling the Washington Examiner that Republicans’ efforts to remove progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs factored into his decision. Democrats have pointed to Santos remaining on his panels while defending Omar, arguing that it’s hypocritical and politically motivated.
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“Staying true to my constituency and to what I believe in, Ilhan Omar must be removed from Foreign Affairs — that is out of the question,” he said. “So, if I was going to distract or take away from that opportunity, that was the decision.”
Multiple members on both sides of the aisle have called on Santos to step down from his seat.
