Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Despite pressure from Long Island Republican Party members in New York, Rep. George Santos refuses to resign after the pile of lies he spun during the campaign for District 3 was revealed.
“I was elected to serve the people of #NY03, not a party or politiciansI remain committed to doing so and refuse to listen to those local officials who refuse to work with my office to deliver results to keep our community safe and the cost of living low,” Santos said.
Santos’ reaction comes after Republican officials on Long Island, including Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, called for his resignation on Wednesday because he faces multiple investigations into his finances, campaign spending and lies about his personal lifeacademic and professional.
Nassau County Republican Party Chairman Joseph G. Cairo Jr. said Santos had lost his party’s trust in District 3.
“He has disgraced the House of Representatives and we do not consider him one of our congressmen,” Cairo said. “Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, I call for your immediate resignation.”
I was elected to serve the people of #NY03 not the party & politicians, I remain committed to doing that and regret to hear that local officials refused to work with my office to deliver results to keep our community safe and lower the cost of living.
I will NOT resign!
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 11, 2023
Federal and local prosecutors are investigating whether Santos committed crimes related to his finances or made misleading statements, according to reports from various outlets, including The New York Times, New York Post, but in a chain of revelations started by local outlet The North Shore Leader.
Even the Daily Beast revealed that Santos received funds from an immigrant smuggler for his election campaign.
Santos took office last weekend after the Republicans managed to appoint Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives, who had maintained a worrying silence on the matter until he admitted to MSNBC that Santos should not be part of high-level committees in the House.
Former representative Adam Kinzinger (Illinois) responded to Santos’s tweet with a simple “resignation,” but the latter did not remain silent and lashed out at Kinzinger: “Go cry on CNN.”