Rep. George Santos (R-NY) said on Thursday he will not seek re-election in 2024 after the release of a scathing House Ethics Committee report on his conduct.
The Long Island Republican released a statement on X that criticized the ethics inquiry as a political “smear,” but he ended it by announcing that he will not run for a second term.
“I will remain steadfast in fighting for my rights and for defending my name in the face of adversity. I am humbled yet again and reminded that I am human and I have flaws, but I will not stand by as I am stoned by those who have flaws themselves,” Santos said.
“I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed,” Santos added. “I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time.”
If there was a single ounce of ETHICS in the “Ethics committee”, they would have not released this biased report. The Committee went to extraordinary lengths to smear myself and my legal team about me not being forthcoming (My legal bills suggest otherwise).
It is a disgusting…
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) November 16, 2023
The House Ethics Committee unveiled a 56-page report on Thursday that said investigators uncovered a “complex web of unlawful activity” involving Santos’ campaign, personal, and business finances since they began their review earlier this year. The panel determined the congressman’s “conduct warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House.”
In addition, congressional investigators gathered “substantial evidence” of Santos violating federal criminal laws and the panel’s members voted unanimously to refer their findings to the Department of Justice, the committee said in a release.
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Santos has already pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, which include aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy. A judge set a trial date for Santos in early September of next year, roughly two months before the 2024 election.
Two of Santos’ former aides have pleaded guilty in recent weeks.
Santos previously filed paperwork for a re-election campaign and challengers have been lining up to compete for his seat in 2024.
Throughout this year, Santos faced calls to resign and so far had survived multiple attempts by colleagues to expel him from the House. Republicans in New York have been among Santos’ loudest critics and led the latest unsuccessful effort to expel him.
Upon the release of the ethics report, House members quickly started declaring their intent to try again and secure Santos’ ouster before his term ends.
Santos called the ethics investigation a “disgusting politicized smear” and particularly took issue with the report’s assertion that he was not fully cooperative with the inquiry.
He said anyone who was involved in the probe should be “ashamed” of themselves. He also called for an Article V constitutional convention to address issues facing the United States, including border security and national debt that’s approaching $34 trillion.
“Public service life was never a goal or a dream, but I stepped up to the occasion when I felt my country needed it most,” Santos said. “I will 100% continue to maintain my commitment to my conservative values in my remaining time in Congress.”