“This MAGA clown car has to come to a screeching halt instead of shifting into high gear,” Hochul, 65,told CNN’s Brianna Keilar in a Thursday night interview.
Hochul continued: “I am very happy to have him resign. Stop the embarrassment that has befallen the people in his district in the state of New York. Just go away.”
If 35-year-old Santos were to resign orbe expelled, Hochul said she would call for a special election to be held within 70-80 days of the official vacancy.
Leigh Vogel/Getty, Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty
Santos — who wasmired in controversyeven before his January swearing-in — entered the national spotlight on a rocky note, as story after story cropped up about himlying about his past, allegations ofrunning fraudulent schemesaccumulated, and a prospective staffer accused him ofmaking unwanted sexual advances.
New York Rep. George Santos speaks to reporters after initial calls to expel him in May were forwarded to the House Ethics Committee.Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty
The Republican was hit with a23-count federal indictmentthis year thattells a similar narrative, featuring a variety of theft and fraud charges involving his congressional campaign. (Santospleaded not guiltyto each of the criminal charges and has not yet gone to trial.)
House Ethics revealed on Thursday morning that the subcommittee investigating Santos “unanimously concluded that there was substantial evidence” that he “knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct … 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.”
Santos announced Thursday that hewould no longer seek reelectionin 2024, following the release of the committee’s report, though he has yet to announce any plans to step down.
As Hochul told CNN, however, “The jig is up. It’s time to move on. And if he gets expelled from Congress, he won’t have any choice … he must move on.”
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In light of the latest ethics report, some who previously voted against expelling Santos have suggested that they will consider supporting his expulsion this time around.
source: people.com
