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☆ Democratic lawmakers are having a blast on 'Bluesky,' the latest alternative to Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Democratic lawmakers have begun posting on "Bluesky," the latest alternative to Twitter. And for the Democratic lawmakers who use the platform, it's a place that feels safer and more gentle than Twitter. "The invite tree accountability makes people more judicious about bringing in solid people," wrote Ocasio-Cortez in a "skeet" this week. But I've [posted] triple digits in less than a week [on Bluesky]," she wrote in an earlier post. In a "skeet" on Bluesky, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez declares the platform to be "safer and more fun" than Twitter.

Donald Trump's calls for mass protests fell flat ahead of his NYC arraignment on Tuesday. By noon, more than 100 Trump backers had descended upon a park outside a Manhattan courthouse. By noon, more than 100 backers of the indicted ex-president had descended upon a park outside of the lower Manhattan courthouse where Trump will be arraigned. Overall, the pro-Trump crowd paled in comparison to the demonstrations and massive protests Trump called for before he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also delivered a roughly 10-minute-long speech to a swarm of press and Trump backers at a park rally.

☆ Rep. George Santos files 2024 statement of candidacy — but it doesn't mean he's running for reelection
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos of New York took a step Tuesday toward a possible bid for a second term in the House, where he is currently under investigation. Santos' campaign filed a statement of candidacy for the 2024 election cycle with the Federal Election Commission, a move that could signal the freshman lawmaker's intent to run for reelection. After winning his seat, the New York Times reported that Santos appeared to have fabricated key details of his background. Joseph Murray, a lawyer for Santos' campaign, could not confirm whether the congressman was indeed seeking reelection. Santos was sworn into Congress under a cloud of scandal earlier this year, after the bombshell New York Times report questioned key details about his personal and professional life.

☆ The House Ethics Committee is officially investigating George Santos for his campaign activity, financial disclosures, and a sexual misconduct allegation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The House Ethics Committee has officially launched an investigation into scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos. But the evenly-divided committee doesn't have a history of taking strong action against wrongdoing. "The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred," read a statement from the committee. Additionally, the committee has historically been subject to the whims of party leadership, which has so far stopped short of taking harsh action against Santos. George Santos (@RepSantosNY03) March 2, 2023

☆ GOP Rep. Andy Ogles claimed to fight international sex crimes and be an economic expert. Like George Santos, his real resume tells another story.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Katherine Long | Bryan Metzger | Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) claims he's a real estate magnate, policy expert, and sex crime investigator. Ogles' business experience seems to be limited to owning two restaurants, a short-lived travel agency, and becoming licensed as an insurance agent. Ogles' supposed experience rescuing sex trafficking victims helped propel him into national headlines in his first week in Congress. During one debate during his campaign, Ogles described himself as "a former member of law enforcement" who worked "in international sex crimes, specifically child trafficking." Fighting international sex crimes and traffickingWhen discussing his support for a more militarized border with Mexico, Ogles has repeatedly referenced his involvement in combating human trafficking and working to fight international sex crimes.

☆ Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna claimed she was raised Jewish. Some relatives question that, and say her grandfather fought for the Nazis.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna may have misrepresented her religious background. She says she was raised as a Messianic Jew by her father, but relatives dispute that. Luna also claims to be Hispanic, but registered to vote as "White, not of Hispanic origin" in 2015. But according to three relatives who spoke with the Post, her father, George Mayerhofer, was Catholic, and they were unaware of him practicing any form of Judaism. One relative, Jolanta Mayerhofer, told the Post that Heinrich Mayerhofer had no choice in the matter.

Embattled Rep. George Santos grabbed a premier center aisle seat ahead of President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address. Seated beside Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Santos soon discovered that not everyone — including some Republicans — was interested in seeing him. Santos sat just in front of Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and behind Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi. Seats are reserved for senators as a group in the front of the chamber and House members sit behind them. House members can claim preferred spots during the day but they have to camp out there to reserve them for the entirety of the speech.

☆ More people are questioning George Santos' claim that he rescued 2,400 animals and are accusing him of pocketing thousands of dollars meant for pets: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

More people are coming forward and accusing George Santos of pocketing funds meant for pets. "It was excuse after excuse after excuse," Dos Santos told The New York Times. Dos Santos said she worked with Santos to sell $50 tickets to a barbecue with live music and drinks. The proceeds from the event, Dos Santos said, were meant to go to building a new shelter for abused pets. "It was excuse after excuse after excuse," Dos Santos said.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos of New York will not serve on the two House committees to which he was recently assigned until the investigations into his conduct have concluded, his office said Tuesday. Santos' decision to recuse himself from the two panels marks one of the first tangible repercussions he has faced since admitting he fabricated key details about his biography. And the voters in Santos' district aren't keen on keeping him around, either, according to a new poll released Tuesday morning. The pollster surveyed 653 voters from Santos' district between Jan. 23 and last Thursday.

☆ George Santos says he'll step down from his committees amid scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. George Santos told his GOP colleagues that he will step down from his committees. Santos was set to serve on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and House Small Business Committee. Santos said he will remove himself from the congressional panels because he's been a "distraction," one House Republican told the Washington Post. 3 House Republican, said in a press conference on Tuesday. Two House Democrats earlier this month filed a complaint against Santos, asking the House Ethics Committee to investigate the congressman.

☆ House Republican tells Kevin McCarthy to 'start governing for a change,' says she won't vote to boot Ilhan Omar off of the House Foreign Affairs committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McCarthy is set to hold a vote on removing Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs committee. He cited Omar's previous comments on Israel as well as previous votes to do the same to Republicans. But at least one House Republican — Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana — has firmly declared that she will not vote for the resolution. Speaker McCarthy needs to stop 'bread and circuses' in Congress and start governing for a change." But as House Speaker, McCarthy has the unilateral ability to reject Jeffries's picks for any select committee.

☆ Hakeem Jeffries tells Kevin McCarthy that it's a 'double standard' if 'serial fraudster' George Santos serves on committees but Schiff and Swalwell get kicked off of the intelligence committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hakeem Jeffries is arguing that Reps. Schiff and Swalwell should be kept on the intelligence committee. The House Democratic leader sent a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Saturday making the case. He pointed out that George Santos has been "welcomed" by the GOP despite being a "serial fraudster." "The apparent double standard risks undermining the spirit of bipartisan cooperation that is so desperately needed in Congress." "It does not serve as precedent or justification for the removal of Representatives Schiff and Swalwell, given that they have never exhibited violent thoughts or behavior," he wrote.

☆ Rep. George Santos's office says he still intends to donate his entire salary to charity and will do so quarterly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP Rep. George Santos has pledged not to accept his congressional salary several different times. On Friday, his office told Insider he plans to donate his entire salary on a quarterly basis. A spokeswoman for Santos's congressional office told Insider on Friday that Santos will be donating the entirety of his congressional salary, making quarterly donations to an organization "such as a soup kitchen, or animal shelter." In a recent appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" show, he repeatedly dodged questions from fellow Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida about where that money came from. "I will not accept a congressional salary at all," he wrote in a May 2021 tweet slamming Suozzi.

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.

☆ Why George Santos is denying that he performed as a drag queen even as he leaves a litany of other questions unanswered
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Santos faces more pressing questions, but performing in drag could hurt his standing with fellow Republicans. "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 is gay, wrote on Twitter, calling the recent allegations an "outrageous claim." According to Rochard, who also provided photos allegedly showing Santos in drag, Santos performed under the name "Kitara Ravache." Nearly three dozen of Santos's Republican colleagues introduced a bill taking aim at drag queen story hours. But Santos is also the first non-incumbent gay Republican elected to Congress, and is one of just a handful of out gay Republicans to ever serve in Congress.

☆ A military veteran is accusing George Santos of pocketing $3,000 from his dying dog's GoFundMe page in 2016
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A military veteran has accused George Santos of taking money from his sick dog's GoFundMe. Osthoff told the media outlet his dog Sapphire was dying from a stomach tumor and that Devolder offered to help, starting a GoFundMe page for Sapphire in May 2016. Insider saw multiple posts on Osthoff's Facebook page from May to July 2016 that linked out to a GoFundMe page titled, "Click here to support sapphire The Veteran rescue! by Anthony Devolder." It was one of the most degrading things I ever had to do," Osthoff told Patch.

☆ George Santos is a 'bad guy' who's told 'pretty despicable' lies, GOP House oversight chair says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Taylor Ardrey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. James Comer called George Santos "a bad guy" who told "pretty despicable" lies. Speaking with CNN, Comer expressed that he has not introduced himself to Santos due to his alleged falsehoods. Rep. Santos has been under fire after reports exposed misrepresentations of his background. Recent reports have uncovered that Santos may have shared a slew of alleged misrepresentations about his background, including his employment, religious background, and education. He's going to be under strict ethics investigation, not necessarily for lying, but for his campaign finance potential violations," Comer told CNN.

☆ We asked House lawmakers about scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos. Most Republicans want nothing to do with him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

But Santos is clearly a problem for House Republicans. But three days later, Miller — who actually represents Ohio's 7th district — became the eighth House Republican to publicly call for Santos to resign. said Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who said that Santos "seems nice" even as he appeared unaware of the extent of his controversies. At a press conference on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointedly declared that Santos was "an issue that Republicans need to handle." Santos and Ocasio-Cortez briefly spoke on the sidelines of a gaggle of GOP lawmakers on the House floor on Wednesday, January 4.

☆ Former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan calls on Rep. George Santos to resign: 'This isn't an embellished candidacy, it's a fraudulent candidacy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. George Santos lied about key details of his life, education, and background. Former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan told CNN's Jake Tapper that Santos should resign. "I can't imagine the guy is going to stay very long," Ryan told Tapper. "Congressman George Santos, he's lied about apparently everything on his resumé," Tapper said to Ryan Capping off a 12-minute interview. This isn't an embellished candidacy, it's a fraudulent candidacy," Ryan added.

☆ The 6 possible ways Rep. George Santos' situation gets resolved
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) watches proceedings during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesRep. George Santos lied about his education, work history, and more while on the campaign trail. Additionally, fellow New York Rep. Anthony D'Esposito became the first Republican member of Congress to call for Santos to resign on Wednesday. Republican Rep. George Santos of New York in the House chamber on January 4, 2023. Needless to say, this is a rather unlikely outcome for the career of Rep. George Santos.

☆ The furor over Biden's classified documents rekindles House Republicans' sweeping impeachment agenda
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

House Republicans sought to impeach Biden, Merrick Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas and others last year. 57; H. Res. 596; H. Res. 597; H. Res. 598; H. Res.

☆ Rep. George Santos was paid by a company that the SEC called a 'classic Ponzi scheme' but he never disclosed the payments as a candidate, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On Wednesday, WaPo reported he was paid by a firm accused of being a Ponzi scheme in April 2021. A financial disclosure filed by Santos as a candidate that covered January 2021 to December 2022 did not list any payments from Harbor City Capital. An SEC complaint was filed against Harbor City Capital on April 20, 2021. The complaint, which did not name Santos, said the company's founder spent investors' money on personal expenses and paid them monthly interest payments in "classic Ponzi scheme fashion." Santos previously told The Daily Beast he did not know about what was going on at the company.

☆ GOP Rep. George Santos vows to serve out his full term as more Republicans push him to resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos of New York vowed Thursday to stay in Congress and serve out his full two-year term, brushing off howls of bipartisan criticism and calls for his resignation after he admitted to lying about his background. A handful of Santos' fellow freshman House Republicans have joined in, including Rep. Nick Langworthy, who is also the chair of the New York Republican Party. But newly minted Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is not calling on Santos to resign from the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority over Democrats and losing Santos' vote would make the speaker's job more difficult. "Voters have elected George Santos," McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill. McCarthy's remarks contrasted with the barrage of criticism that Long Island Republicans hurled at Santos a day earlier.

Two New York Democratic congressmen filed a House Ethics Committee complaint Tuesday against Rep. George Santos, the freshman New York Republican who recently was found to have lied about and embellished details on his resume. "At a minimum, it is apparent that he did not file timely disclosure reports for his most recent campaign," Torres and Goldman wrote. Goldman told reporters, "We hope that the House Ethics Committee will seriously investigate." The Hill reported that in response to the complaint, Santos said, "They're free to do whatever they want to do." OCE, which is an independent, non-partisan entity established by the House, is distinct from the House Ethics Committee.

☆ House Republicans voted to gut the House Ethics Committee, and George Santos said it was 'fantastic'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

House Republicans voted on Monday to hobble the Office of Congressional Ethics. George Santos, facing multiple investigations and ethics complaints, called the changes "fantastic." The Office of Congressional Ethics, first established in 2008, is a quasi-independent body tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct against members of Congress. It then makes a determination as to whether those allegations are worth investigating further, at which point it makes a referral to the House Ethics Committee, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. In 2017, House Republicans voted in conference to subsume the office under the House Ethics Committee, effectively neutering it.

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