House Ethics Committee Opens Investigation Into Rep. George Santos’ Campaign

The House Ethics Committee announced on Thursday that it will be launching an investigation into the actions of George Santos, a Republican representative from New York’s 3rd Congressional District who is under scrutiny from fellow politicians and the media for lying about his background and misusing finances during his campaign season for the 2022 election. The committee’s top-ranking members from either side of the political spectrum said in a statement that they would “seek to determine whether Mr. Santos had failed to properly fill out his House financial disclosure forms, violated federal conflict of interest laws or engaged in other unlawful activity during his 2022 congressional campaign.”

The inquiry will discuss multiple areas where Rep. Santos has been accused of misconduct in formally filed complaints — including one filed by two of his House colleagues. The investigation into George Santos began after it was reported that he may have used campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, such as meals and clothing. This is a violation of federal election law, which prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal expenses. Santos has denied any wrongdoing and has said that he is cooperating with the investigation. In addition to the campaign finance allegations, Santos has also been accused of potential conflicts of interest. He is the owner of a consulting firm that has done work for companies that have received federal contracts. This has raised concerns about whether Santos has used his position in Congress to benefit his own business interests.

The Representative said on Twitter that he was “fully cooperating” with the committee’s investigation and would not comment further. While the committee has previously recommended the removal of a representative from office in rare instances, it often hands out fines and issues rebukes. As the New York Times puts it, the House Ethics Committee’s “principal tool is to release reports that may create pressure for action by the entire House against sitting members of Congress.”

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/02/santos-ethics-investigation/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/nyregion/george-santos-ethics-investigation.html

KRISHNA MANO

Editor at The City Voice | National Junior High Story of the Year Finalist | MIPA Honorable Mention Award Winner

Hello! My name is Krishna Mano and I am a 9th Grader at City High School. This is my third year writing for the City Voice and first year as an editor. Apart from the newspaper, I am part of the Speech and Debate team, Student Ambassadors, and a board member of the NHS. Outside of school, my most favorite hobbies are reading, playing the violin, public speaking, skiing, and paddleboarding. If you have any questions about my articles, please contact me at krishna.mano.thecityvoice@gmail.com.