George Santos ‘Deserves a Chance to Make a Claim,’ Says Republican Matt Gates | George Santos
New York State House of Representatives George SantosWhile his résumé has been shown to be largely fictitious and his campaign finances have come under scrutiny, far-right Republican Congressman Matt Gates said he “at least deserves a chance to make his case.” ” he said.
“George Santos represents more than 700,000 people in New York,” says Gates of Florida. told CNN Saturday. “Whether people like it or not, these people deserve to have members of Congress working with someone who serves them.”
Santos acquired District 3, which covers parts of Long Island and Queens, last November.Since then, his biography Shown to be mostly configuredhis personal history was widely questioned and his campaign finances scrutinized amid questions about the origins of his personal wealth.
His district party disowned him, and New York Republicans in Congress asked him to resign.Santos is Said he do not do.
Santos-backed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy 15 rounds Voting earlier this month and having to act in a minority majority has taken no action and instead points to the House Ethics Office that his party is attempting. intestine.
McCarthy, Thursday Said: “Elected by voters in his constituency [Santos]he is sitting He is a member of the Republican Congress. ”
Gates was the mastermind behind attempts to stop McCarthy from becoming a public speaker. Speaking to CNN, he aligned himself with McCarthy.
“George Santos will have to go through congressional ethics process.” gates said“I don’t want to prejudge that process, but I think he at least deserves a chance to make his case. There are requirements that members of Congress need to meet when it comes to money donated to their own campaigns.” there is.
“But until then, I don’t think George Santos should be shunned because the Americans he serves deserve representation and they have real challenges. We need to work together to solve challenges and meet their needs.”
Earlier this week, Gates spoke with Santos on former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s podcast. Asked about his wealth, Santos nodded at Republican claims about Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, saying:
Santos is investigating Brazilthe use of stolen checkbooks, and New Yorkabout the claims about him university history, professional career and family backgrounds that have been shown to be untrue. Santos admitted to “embellishing” his resume, but he claimed he had done nothing wrong or unethical.
Bannon’s podcast on Gaetz Said: “It’s not a crime to decorate a resume. Frankly, that’s how a lot of people go to Congress. And we want everyone to be honest.”
On Sunday, Kentucky’s James Comer, the new Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, was asked if Santos should resign.
In his State of the Union address on CNN, he said: This is what you know, it’s really bad… but look, George Santos was duly elected by the people. It is his decision whether he resigns or not. ”
Moderate Republican Don Bacon of Nebraska told ABC’s This Week: You can’t face voters.
“But this is primarily a matter between him and his voters. They elected him, so they have to deal with him. I don’t think his chances of re-election are very promising.”
Comer also said, “If he violates campaign finance laws, he will be removed from office.”
This week, Democrats in Congress called for an investigation into Santos’ campaign finance by the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog. submitted A unique request for a campaign finance investigation by the Federal Election Commission.
CLC’s complaint states: [FEC] What appears to be an equally brazen lie about how his campaign was raised and used should be thoroughly investigated. ”
write in for the guardiancolumnist Moira Donegan noted Santos’ rise in the Republican Party led by Donald Trump.
“It would be a mistake to think that George Santos’ medical condition was his alone,” she wrote. It is a product of a political system.
“In that sense, Santos is the right politician for us.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/15/george-santos-deserves-chance-republican-matt-gaetz George Santos ‘Deserves a Chance to Make a Claim,’ Says Republican Matt Gates | George Santos