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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Newly elected freshman Rep. George Santos (R-NY), embroiled in a scandal over his resume and claims made on the campaign trail, sits alone in the House Chamber surrounded only by the children of other representatives, on the first day of the 1
By Gram Slattery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -New York Republicans on Wednesday called for the resignation of “disgraced” newly elected U.S. Representative George Santos, following revelations he fabricated much of his resume and life story during his campaign.
They made the call in a news conference two days after a nonpartisan watchdog accused Santos of breaking campaign finance laws in a filing with the Federal Elections Committee.
The Nassau County, New York, Republican Party, from the New York City suburb that includes the majority of Santos’ district, said in a statement ahead of the event that dozens of county Republican officials would make “a major announcement regarding the disgraced Member of the House of Representatives.”
“The contingent of elected officials, candidates and party officials will deliver the strongest statement yet regarding the Nassau GOP’s position on Santos,” the party said.
Santos has admitted fabricating much of his resume.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 222-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won his November race over Democrat Robert Zimmerman by a margin of 7.5 percentage points.
But his victory was quickly overshadowed by media reports indicating that the persona he presented to voters was largely a work of fiction.
Among other claims, Santos said he had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite neither institution having any record of him attending. He claimed to have worked at Goldman Sachs (NYSE:) and Citigroup (NYSE:), which was also untrue.
He also falsely said that he was Jewish and that his grandparents escaped the Nazis during World War Two.
Two House Democrats on Tuesday referred the matter to the House ethics committee this week. The local district attorney has said her office is investigating Santos.
No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise told reporters on Tuesday that the party was looking into the matter.
“This is something that’s being handled internally,” Scalise told reporters on Tuesday. “Obviously there were concerns about what we had heard and so we’re going to have to sit down and talk to him about it.”
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