On Thursday, the House Ethics Committee announced that it had voted unanimously to establish a subcommittee to investigate embattled representative George Santos (R., N.Y.).
The first-term congressman has admitted to fabricating large swathes of his resume and background.
According to the committee, the panel will determine if Santos “engaged in unlawful activity with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office.”
Representative David Joyce (R., Ohio) will serve as the subcommittee’s chairman and Representative Susan Wild (D., Pa.) will serve as ranking member. Representatives John Rutherford (R., Fla.) and Glenn Ivey (D., Md.) round out the committee.
The Ethics committee noted that the mere fact of establishing a subcommittee “does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”
Santos has faced calls to resign from far and wide: lawmakers from both parties, the Nassau County GOP, and many of his own constituents.
According to a Newsday–Siena College poll, 78 percent of voters surveyed from Santos’ district, including 71 percent of Republicans, believe the controversial backbencher should resign.
So far Santos has refused, though he did voluntarily step down from his committee assignments.