George Santos tells House Republicans he wants to step down from his committees until issues are resolved – Boston News, Weather, Sports

(CNN) – Rep. George Santos told the House GOP conference behind closed doors on Tuesday that he wanted to step out of both of his committees by then his problems resolved, three members told CNN.

The New York Republican who turned himself in calls for his resignation because of false information – also about his professional experience, his education and his identity – is member the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and the Committee on Small Business. are federal prosecutors also examine Santos’ financesand he continues to face myriad questions about his personal finances.

He was first elected last fall.

Santos declined to speak to reporters as he left the meeting.

Santos met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Monday night.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told CNN that it was Santos’ own decision to “abstain” from the committees. She said he told the conference he would be retiring from the committees, as the GOP is trying to do ousted Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from Minnesota from the foreign affairs committee.

Democrats have cited the mounting false testimony and Santos scrutiny as an example of hypocrisy for Republicans, who fired Omar and two other House Democrats — California Reps Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell — from committee duties. During Ship and Swalwell could be ejected by the House Intelligence Committee, sided by McCarthy, Omar’s position on House foreign affairs will require a House vote, one Republican leaders have yet to force.

“He just felt that the situation was really that dramatic, and especially what we are doing to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Greene told CNN.

She added: “But Mr Santos’ testimony in it was only that he spoke to Speaker McCarthy and made that decision himself.”

Small Business Committee chairman Roger Williams, a Texas Republican, said he believes Santos “probably made the right decision” to step down from his committee duties until questions about his past and financial irregularities are resolved.

As Santos left his Capitol Hill office late last week, he told a reporter he would be hosting a press conference “soon” to “address everything.”

“We’ll give you all the answers to anything you ask,” he said.

In recent days, Santos has faced a slew of questions about his campaign finances, including donor inquiries and campaign payouts, including dozens of expenses his campaign has reported at exactly $199.99, a penny below the threshold above which the campaign lie must keep receipts.

The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the FEC, describing its payouts as “strange and seemingly impossible.” It notes that one of the $199.99 expenses was allegedly for a “hotel stay” at the luxurious W Hotel South Beach in Florida in October 2021, where the lowest-priced room typically costs more than $700. would have cost dollars.

Last week Santos also filed a number of amended reports with the FEC, which only added to the confusion over the source of the credit he allegedly provided for his campaign.

In some filings, the campaign failed to tick boxes suggesting two six-figure loans came from the candidate’s personal funds.

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