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☆ George Santos ends congressional bid for New York’s 1st District
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Rashard Rose | Piper Hudspethblackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former New York Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House and is facing federal charges, announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing his bid for Congress in New York’s 1st District. The future holds countless possibilities and I am ready willing and able to step up to the plate and go fight for my country at anytime,” Santos said. The announcement comes roughly a month after Santos said he was leaving the Republican Party and would make his congressional comeback bid as an independent. The former congressman became the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House in December 2023. It’s only goodbye for now, I’ll be back,” Santos said.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Nick LaLota, “, ”, ” LaLota, ” Santos, MAGA, ” “, It’s, I’ll Organizations: CNN, Former New York Rep, New York’s, Congressional District, GOP, Dems, Republican Party, Trump, Capitol Locations: New York’s, Long

☆ Portugal election results: Luis Montenegro’s coalition claims slim win as radical right surges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Vasco Cotovio | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Democratic Alliance coalition won 29.5% of the 98.98% of votes counted early Monday, with the incumbent Socialist Party on 28.7%. The results are not final – but Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos has already conceded. Chega won 18%, a breakthrough for the radical right party and its leader, André Ventura, a former trainee priest and football pundit. For decades the Socialist Party and center-right Social Democratic Party – the main party in the Democratic Alliance – have taken turns in power. Andre Ventura, the leader of Chega party, speaks to journalists after voting in Lisbon on March 10, 2024.

Persons: Chega, Pedro Nuno Santos, André Ventura, Luis Montenegro, Democratic Alliance –, Antonio Costa, Andre Ventura, Nuno Cruz, Nuno Santos, ” Santos, Ventura’s Chega, –, ”, Ventura Organizations: CNN, Democratic Alliance, Socialist Party, Social Democratic Party –, Social Democratic Party, PSD Locations: Portugal’s, Portugal, Lisbon, Chega, Europe, Greece, Croatia, Western Europe, Costa, Montenegro

The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday halted plans to change how it asks people about disabilities after facing a growing backlash. Supporters of the proposed changes said the revisions would have provided more nuanced data and given officials better details about disabilities that can inform how services or resources are provided. In a test run, the percentage of respondents who were defined as having a disability went from 13.9% using the current questions to 8.1% under the proposed changes. The proposed changes to the disability questions were among several tweaks to the American Community Survey that the Census Bureau was planning to submit this year for approval to the Office of Management and Budget. As part of that process, the Census Bureau solicited public feedback and got more than 12,000 responses, with the majority expressing concerns about changes to the disability questions.

Persons: ”, Scott Landes, “, Robert Santos, ” Santos, Bonnielin Swenor, Mike Schneider Organizations: Census, Survey, Syracuse University, American, American Community Survey, Bureau, Management, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is making history this year in ways that Republicans could hardly have envisioned when the party took control. First, the Republicans voted to oust their speaker, Kevin McCarthy, and on Friday they voted to get rid of one of their own, indicted GOP Rep. George Santos of New York. The result has been a dizzying 11 months in a House majority riven by infighting, chiseling away at the powers of Congress and taking its toll on the actual business of governing. As the year comes to a close, the arc of power for House Republicans is at an inflection point, a new era of performance politics and chaotic governing that shows no signs of easing. A scathing House Ethics report found “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos, including questionable campaign expenditures on items like Botox.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, George Santos, chiseling, Mike Lawler, Santos, you’re, ”, ” Santos, “, Donald Trump, Nick LaLota, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, Hunter Organizations: WASHINGTON, House Republicans, Republican, New, Capitol, Yorkers, GOP, Trump, Republicans Locations: George Santos of New York, lawbreaking, Florida

☆ After deception and drama, George Santos faces expulsion from Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The authors of the subcommittee’s submission, in perhaps their most admirable achievement, summarized Santos’ grand political deception in a single sentence. (Santos’ first treasurer, Nancy Marks, resigned before pleading guilty to a conspiracy fraud charge and implicating Santos in a scheme to hoodwink donors.) Not coincidentally, all five swing-district Republican freshmen are expected to vote for Santos’ removal on Friday. In comments to reporters on Thursday, Santos promised more drama before he leaves town. “I’m going to be the first member of Congress expelled without any of those parameters.”On that point at least, Santos is telling the truth.

Persons: George Santos ’, Michael Guest, Santos, He’s, America’s, Santos ’, Mary Magdalene, United States Congress ”, “ Santos, ”, “, Goldman Sachs, Robert Zimmerman, might’ve, Santos –, Elise Stefanik, machers –, Stefanik, Anthony D’Esposito, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Brandon Williams, Marc Molinaro, Thomas Datwyler, Nancy Marks, ” “, ” Santos, Marks, Mike Johnson, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, New York Republican Rep, Republican, GOP House, United States Congress, Baruch College, Business Administration, New York University, Citi Group, Democratic, Congressional District, New York Times, Empire State Democrats, Democrats, GOP, New York, Washington and New York, Battleground, ”, Republicans, Confederate Locations: Mississippi, Business, New York, Washington and New, Long, New York City, Battleground New York, Santos, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. George Santos of New York is facing a critical vote to expel him from the House on Friday as lawmakers weigh whether his actions, fabrications and alleged lawbreaking warrant the chamber's most severe punishment. “I will not stand by quietly,” Santos declared on the House floor Thursday as lawmakers debated his removal. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters will welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard. In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. ___Follow the AP's coverage of U.S. Rep. George Santos of New York at https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.

Persons: — Rep, George Santos, Santos, “, ” Santos, Mike Johnson, ”, Anthony D’Esposito, Clay Higgins, Higgins, Susan Wild, brazenly, ” Wild, “ Mr, Hakeem Jeffries, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “ George Santos, ” Jeffries, Farnoush Amiri, george, santos Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Third, Union, Republican, Republicans, Wall, Eastern, of New York, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Federal, Commission, Democratic, New York, Associated Press, U.S . Rep Locations: George Santos of New York, New York, Santos, U.S, lawbreaking, New, Georgia

☆ Santos refuses to resign a day ahead of expected expulsion vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Clare Foran | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos continues his refusal to resign one day ahead of an expulsion vote, instead arguing that he is being bullied in the wake of a scathing ethics report on his conduct. Pressed on why he won’t resign, Santos said, “because if I leave, they win. This is bullying.”Santos previously announced that he would not seek reelection following the release of a damning report from the House Ethics Committee, though he has denounced the investigation. As Republicans weigh how to vote, many have expressed due process concerns over expulsion since Santos has yet to be convicted in a court of law. It’s not yet clear if there will be enough votes to expel Santos.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, won’t, ” Santos, “, ”, Jamaal Bowman, Bowman, –, It’s, Mike Johnson, “ We’ve, ” Johnson Organizations: GOP Rep, Capitol, Democratic Locations: New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker moved Tuesday to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House, calling it a necessary step if Republicans fail to take action in light of the recent ethics report that found Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., brought back to the floor legislation he first introduced in February to force the expulsion vote. “Whatever it takes to get that vote this week, is what we're doing,” Garcia said. Expelling Santos, a Republican from New York, would require support from at least two-thirds of House members voting. Santos has rejected any suggestion he step down before an expulsion vote.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Robert Garcia, Garcia, ” Garcia, ” Santos, Kevin McCarthy, Zoe Lofgren, “, ” Lofgren, Santos “, Rep, Michael Guest, Guest, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democratic, Republican, New York Republicans Locations: New York, Florida

Don’t suppose the imminent end of the political career of the dreadful Representative George Santos rises to the level of holiday cheer. Bret Stephens: It’s a depressing world, Gail, so we need to find cheer wherever we can, and the House Ethics Committee report on Santos does make for delightful reading. and was noted as ‘Botox’ in expense spreadsheets ….” Santos would have been around 32 years old at the time. Gail: You’re right. Gail: I can see how Biden felt a little cornered when a reporter asked him if he still believed Xi was a dictator.

Persons: Gail Collins, Bret, George Santos, Bret Stephens, Gail, Santos, ” Santos, You’re, Joe Biden, Xi, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Biden Locations: Communist

☆ Opinion: Expelling Santos wouldn’t solve the problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The report details “substantial evidence” that one of the nation’s most famous liars had violated federal laws. It only adds to the long list of news stories that have uncovered how much of what Santos told voters was not true. Today, the odds became pretty good that enough Republicans might join Democrats in voting to expel Santos. Like Trump, Santos is a symptom, not the cause of what has been happening to the Republican Party. Eliminating him from the caucus will not solve the problem at the core of the party.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, George Santos, Santos ’, ” Santos, Donald Trump, Santos, Republicans can’t, “, ”, Anthony D’Esposito, George Santos ’, —, Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jon Lovitz’s, Tommy Flanagan —, Lovitz Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, The New York Times, America, House, Republican Rep, Department of Justice, Long Island Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Republicans, Trump, , New, , New York Republicans, Guinness, World Records, Republican Party, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, CBS, Fox News Locations: George Santos of New York, ,, , New York, People’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

Republican Rep. George Santos announced he will not seek reelection to the House next year, following the Ethics Committee’s release of its long-awaited report on Thursday, concluding that there is “substantial evidence” that the New York congressman used campaign funds for personal purposes. The committee said it uncovered additional “uncharged and unlawful conduct” by Santos that go beyond the criminal allegations already pending against him, and would immediately refer these allegations to the Justice Department for further investigation. Everyone who participated in this grave miscarriage of Justice should all be ashamed of themselves,” Santos wrote of the report in a post on X. Santos has remained defiant in the face of the mounting legal issues he faces. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, “, ” Santos, Santos “ Organizations: New, Federal, Justice Department, New York Republican Locations: New York

A former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising campaign cash for the embattled New York Republican. Miele is the second campaign aide to Santos who took a plea deal in a federal probe. Federal prosecutors say Santos wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has vowed to clear his name. Santos also recounted what he believed was an attempt by Miele last summer to try to rejoin Santos' campaign.

Persons: George Santos, Sam Miele, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy, Meyer, Miele, Santos, “, Kevin Marino, Marino, ” Miele, Nancy Marks, Marks, ” Santos, Prosecutors Organizations: U.S . Rep, New York Republican, Republican, Federal, U.S, Eastern, of, Federal Elections Commission, Republican Party, Associated Press Locations: Santos, Peace, U.S, of New York, Queens, Long, —

☆ Rep. George Santos faces 10 new federal charges, including allegations of stealing donors’ identities, running up fraudulent credit card charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Federal prosecutors on Tuesday accused Rep. George Santos of stealing donors’ identities and running up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges on their credit cards. This fresh round of charges, called a superseding indictment, effectively replaces the earlier case against Santos. In May, Santos, 35, pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges. Pressed Tuesday on whether he would resign, Santos said: “No, I will not.”“I did not have access to my phone. I have no clue what you guys are talking about,” Santos told CNN’s Manu Raju when asked about the indictment.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Santos ’, Nancy Marks, “, ” Marks, Marks, ginning, ” “, ” Santos, CNN’s Manu Raju, ” Organizations: CNN, Federal, New York Republican, Republicans, Santos, of New, Representatives, House, New, Congressional Locations: United States, of New York, Long Island, Queens

At one point, the indictment said, Menendez Googled the phrase "price of a kilo of gold." "People are salivating at the opportunity to have an open Senate seat, which might lead to an open congressional seat, which might lead to an open state Senate seat, which might call into question who might be the state Senate president," Harrison says. Democratic members of Congress from neighboring states – including a Latina, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called on Menendez to resign. "It is hard for me to believe that Sen. Menendez can be effective in his job, given these allegations. But I think I want to get back and talk to my colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee before I recommend a path forward for Sen. Menendez,” Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, told MSNBC in an interview on Sunday.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Cuomo, Anthony Weiner wasn't, Weiner, –, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Bob Menendez, Jersey pols, Brandon Rottinghaus, Menendez –, Menendez, Nadine, Fidel Castro, Menendez's, Robert Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Brigid Harrison, Harrison, Alexandria Ocasio, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman of, Donald Trump, ” Sen, Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, Pelosi, didn't, Joe Biden, James Traficant, Traficant, Gary Condit, Chandra Levy, Condit, George Santos, ” Santos, they’re, ”, Rottinghaus Organizations: Democratic, New, Twitter, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, University of Houston, Foreign, Prosecutors, Foreign Relations, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Gov, Democratic Party, Montclair State University, Latina, Connecticut Democrat, MSNBC, United State Senate, Arizona Democrat, CBS, James Traficant , Ohio Democrat, House, Capitol Locations: New York, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Jersey, New Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Alexandria, Cortez, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Arizona, James Traficant , Ohio, California, Rock Creek

CNN —Ecuadorians have voted to ban oil drilling in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, the Yasuní National Park, situated in the Amazon rainforest. The Yasuní National Park park spans around 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres) at the meeting point of the Amazon, the Andes and the Equator. In 2016, the Ecuadorian state oil company began drilling in Block 43 – around 0.01% of the National Park – which today produces more than 55,000 barrels a day, amounting to around 12% of Ecuador’s oil production. Yasunidos, an environmental collective, has been pushing for the vote to ban drilling in the park for a decade. “This referendum presents a huge opportunity for us to create change in a tangible way,” Helena Gualinga, an Indigenous rights advocate from a remote village in the Ecuadorian Amazon, told CNN.

Persons: CNN — Ecuadorians, Rafael Correa, Fernando Santos, ” Santos, ” Helena Gualinga, Yasunidos, Mitch Anderson, Fernando L, Ecuadorians, ”, Luisa González, Daniel Noboa Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Movimiento Revolución Locations: Ecuador, Europe, North America, Ecuadorian

☆ Opinion: Uganda anti-LGBTQ law is outrageous. Here’s the smart way to fight it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Opinion Brett Bruen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But perhaps most importantly in this context, it actually serves to further erode LGBTQ rights around the world. Putin has used attacks on LGBTQ rights as a way to try to appeal to African leaders, suggesting Russia is more aligned with their conservative values. Slapping stiff sanctions on Kampala will reinforce this rhetoric and allow the anti-LGBTQ attacks he’s using to gain greater strength. Instead, we should look at how to prominently elevate and sustain the focus on LGBTQ rights in our relations with Uganda as well as with these other nations. We should invite more Ugandan musicians, artists and actors to collaborate with leading American LGBTQ cultural figures.

Persons: Brett Bruen, Obama, Yoweri Museveni, doles, Brett Bruen CASME, Biden, George Santos, ” Santos, Ugandans, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Sen, Ted Cruz, Saddam Hussein Organizations: Inc, Georgetown University, Obama White House, CNN, State Department, United Arab, Ugandans, Twitter, Facebook Locations: American, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Iraq, Madagascar, Uganda, United States, Kampala, East, Russia, Zimbabwe, Africa, China, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Russian, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Eritrea

☆ George Santos Is Charged With Fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

George Santos is charged with fraudRepresentative George Santos, the New York Republican who campaigned on a life story littered with lies, has been charged by federal prosecutors with 13 counts including money laundering, stealing public money, wire fraud and making false statements to Congress. Santos pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond. During a chaotic scene outside a federal court on Long Island this afternoon, Santos said the charges were a product of a “witch hunt” and that he would not resign. “I have to keep fighting to defend my innocence,” Santos said, “and I’m going to do that.”Prosecutors say Santos was involved in three separate schemes, but the bulk of the indictment focuses on allegations that Santos directed a political consultant to solicit contributions to a company that he falsely claimed was a political fund. Prosecutors also accuse Santos of fraudulently claiming more than $24,000 in unemployment payments and lying on financial disclosure forms.

WASHINGTON — Embattled Rep. George Santos is refusing to face the music, but he appears to be relishing his moment in the spotlight. The New York Republican and freshman fabulist, the subject of federal, state, local and international investigations, was spotted Wednesday night by NBC News smiling, laughing and taking dozens of selfies with patrons during karaoke night at a popular D.C. barbecue joint. “It’s bizarre.”Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., whose office is just down the hall from Santos’, suggested all that attention could benefit Santos. “You always know more than I do about myself.”Later that night, Santos strolled into Hill Country, where he spent more than an hour schmoozing and chatting up patrons. A Santos staffer belted “Build Me Up Buttercup.”Approached by NBC News at Hill Country, Santos said: “You’re not going to try to interview me.

“To the people of #NY03 I have my story to tell and it will be told next week,” Santos tweeted on Dec. 22. After images surfaced showing Santos dressed in drag, Santos insisted it was “categorically false” that he had ever performed as a drag queen. A Siena College survey released Monday showed many New York voters seem to agree with Stern’s assessment. Just 16% of New York voters said they viewed Santos favorably — including a mere 15% of Republicans. Additionally, 59% of New York voters said Santos should resign while just 17% said he should not.

NBC News has repeatedly contacted Santos’ team with requests for comment about his lies and other allegations against him. Here is a timeline mapping out the controversy:Nov. 3, 2020: Santos loses his first bid for Congress to Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi. Sept. 6, 2022: Santos files his personal financial disclosure report, claiming his assets are as much as $11 million. The New York Times later reported that none of the 49 victims appear to have worked at the various firms named in his biography. In another Dec. 26 interview with the New York Post, Santos acknowledges some of the specific fabrications in his résumé.

Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said claims that he performed as a drag queen are “categorically false.” His denial comes shortly after a Brazilian drag performer shared on social media an image of herself and another person in drag, whom she identified as the newly elected congressman. “The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false,” Santos, who has been the subject of international headlines for weeks for fabricating parts of his résumé, tweeted Thursday morning. Rochard, who is identified as Eula Rorard in the photo, claims the other person in drag went by the stage name Kitara Ravache and is, in fact, Santos. As of Thursday afternoon, the images had been widely circulated on social media and news websites. A lawyer for Santos did not return NBC News’ request for comment regarding the congressman’s stance on the proposed policies related to drag performances.

It’s horrendous that he could lie and steal and cheat his way through life,” Osthoff said. “Fake,” Santos told the news outlet. When the veterinarian treating Sapphire said she would need a different surgeon, Santos suggested using his vet, instead, Osthoff said. Asked whether he wanted the money, Osthoff said, “The money doesn’t mean anything.”“That dog was the thing that kept me alive,” he said. … We do stupid things in life.”The Hill reported last week that Santos told reporters, “I have done nothing unethical.”Santos has resisted calls from fellow members of Congress to resign.

☆ George Santos, my New York colleague in Congress, is a danger
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Rep. Ritchie Torres | The Democratic Representative For | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Rep. George Santos, of New York's 3rd Congressional District, was widely celebrated by Republicans for flipping a Democratic seat in the latest midterm elections. Under normal circumstances, the depth and breadth of his deception would shame one into resigning from public office. But these are not normal times, and Santos is shameless not only in lying but in lying about his lying. The modern GOP has been hijacked by arsonists bent on burning down everything around them, including the Office of Congressional Ethics. The right’s acceptance of Santos is a function of power politics rather than ethics: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy needs every vote he can get, and he needs George Santos to remain in power.

☆ Wells Fargo is retreating from the mortgage market it once led
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Wells Fargo, long one of the biggest players in the mortgage business, is taking a big step back. Wells Fargo said it will also exit its correspondent business, which buys loans made by other lenders, and reduce the size of its mortgage servicing portfolio. The retreat will likely cause Wells Fargo to lay off at least some employees, though the bank did not announce any specifics. The move comes as Wells Fargo continues to be in trouble with regulators. In late 2017, Quicken Loans toppled Wells Fargo as America’s largest mortgage lender.

☆ George Santos arrived in D.C. this week. No one is more riled than N.Y.'s other gay congressman.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Matt-Lavietes-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Matt Lavietes | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

“The House Republican chaos has a silver lining,” Torres tweeted Wednesday, referring to Republicans’ difficulty in electing a House speaker. Does Stefanik have George Santos in mind?” Torres tweeted Tuesday. In another tweet last week, Torres posted a screenshot of an invitation Santos sent to supporters, inviting them to celebrate his swearing into Congress. “He’s a pathological liar who cannot be trusted to serve the very public he defrauded,” Torres told MSNBC’s Joy Reid on Monday. “No one has handed me anything on a silver platter,” he previously told NBC News.

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