Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos announced Monday he will seek reelection in 2024 to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District, defying the calls from some Republicans on Capitol Hill and in his district to step aside.
“I’m proud to announce my candidacy to run for re-election and continue to serve the people of NY-3,” Santos said in a statement announcing his candidacy.
Santos faces long odds. He has lied extensively about his resume, education and family background and now faces federal and local investigations into his finances. As a result, senior Washington Republicans have told members of their party that they will not let Santos be the nominee for his seat.
Still, he has maintained that he has no intention of stepping down early, and he filed paperwork in March formally declaring his 2024 candidacy.
The freshman congressman received $5,333 in contributions during the first quarter of this year and refunded more than $8,000 in donations, according to campaign fundraising filings. It’s highly unusual for a sitting member of Congress to report a net loss on a fundraising report. That leaves Santos’ campaign with $25,000 in cash on hand as of March 31 and with $715,000 in debt.
Santos has described that debt as personal funds he loaned to his successful 2022 effort for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, though how he amassed the money over a two-year period after reporting a $55,000 salary in 2020 remains one of the biggest questions surrounding his political rise and a possible target for federal prosecutors.
The House Ethics Committee probe into whether he may have engaged in unlawful activity in his 2022 campaign also appears to be ramping up, with the panel that’s conducting it asking a prospective Santos employee last month to provide details about his allegation that Santos sexually harassed him in January.
…
Read the full article here