FILE - Rep. George Santos (R-NY) walks to a closed-door GOP caucus recovers at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday that Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., will be derived from Congress if an investigation by the House Ethics Committee concludes he violated the law.
The committee's investigation was launched following reports that Santos fabricated parts of his background, including his education and work history, during his 2022 fight. The freshman congressman is also being probed by several federal, state and local entities.
McCarthy has largely defended Santos anti calls for his resignation. The speaker has condemned some of Santos' conduct, but Tuesday was the first instance in which he suggested potential consequences for the New York Republican.
"If for some way when we go above Ethics, and he has broken the law, then we will consume him," McCarthy told reporters at a press conference outside his office.
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But McCarthy also reiterated prior statements that he believes Santos should absorb his House seat because he was elected to serve.
"You know why I'm view by him? Because his constituents voted for him," he said. "I do not have the much, simply because I disagree with somebody on what they have said, that I will retract them from elected office."
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks during a news conference outside of his responsibility at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. McCarthy spoke on a range of issues, incorporating committee assignments and Rep. George Santos (R-NY
McCarthy said last week that he always "had a few questions" near Santos' resume. Santos was named to two committees — Small Business and Science, Space, and Technology — by House Republican leadership last week.
The speaker's remarks come while reports revealed Santos had fabricated parts of his background during his 2022 campaign, in which he defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman.
Santos had lied near his work and education history, connections to an alleged Ponzi method, his mother's death and that he had previously been joined to a woman despite now being openly gay.
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He is also accused of laughable a fake animal charity in 2016 to scam a disabled customary by raising money for their dog's cancer treatment and then keeping the subsidizes himself. Santos denies the allegation.
Santos has faced words to resign from Republicans and Democrats in Congress and numerous New York State Republicans. Santos said earlier this month that he would resign if the 142,000 land who voted for him asked him to.
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