US House Committee finds 'substantial evidence' George Santos violated laws

WASHINGTON

The US House Ethics Committee released a report Thursday on a month-long investigation into Republican Rep. George Santos that said there is “substantial evidence” he “violated federal criminal laws."

"At the completion of its investigation, the ISC (Investigative Subcommittee) unanimously concluded that there was substantial evidence that Representative George Santos: knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission," it said in a statement.

It accused the New York Republican freshman congressman of using campaign funds for "personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House."

The subcommittee recommended the House Ethics Committee to "immediately refer" the allegations to the Department of Justice.

"The Committee has unanimously voted to adopt the ISC’s report, and with it, refer the substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law to the Department of Justice for such further action as it deems appropriate," it added.

Santos wrote on X, shortly after the report was released, that he would "remain steadfast" in fighting for his rights and defending his 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," he said.

"I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed. 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," he added.

Santos, 34, who lied about his background during his 2022 election campaign, faces seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives, according to an indictment unsealed in May.