Rep. Santos files to run for 2024 election amid various probes

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Mar 2023 16:57

Santos' application to the Federal Election Commission will permit the congressman to raise money for his campaign, which could reach $700,000.

US Republican George Santos at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. (AP)

Amid multiple probes against him, US Republican Congressman George Santos has filed paperwork to the Federal Election Commission to become a candidate for the 2024 elections, according to Politico, which reported that Santos' own party was already requesting his resignation.

His application to the Federal Election Commission will permit the congressman to raise money for his campaign, which could reach $700,000, but no official statements have been disclosed about his election.

Per the report by Politico, even if Santos does succeed with his application, he would be facing a massive amount of obstacles due to his past actions and current open investigations against him.

One investigation is being conducted by the FBI for Santos' role in a fundraising scheme, which involves a GoFundMe campaign - managed by Santos under the name 'Anthony Devolder'. The fund raised $3,000 for life-saving surgery for a dying assistance dog owned by a handicapped homeless US Navy veteran, but the funds were never delivered to the Navy vet.

Stacking up lies

In December 2022, Santos confessed that he lied about his education and job history during the campaign. The New York Times even reported that Santos never worked for Citigroup or Goldman Sachs. Furthermore, he claimed to have graduated from Baruch College in 2010. However, according to the school's administration, neither his name nor his birthdate was among the class of that year's graduates.

In an interview, Santos declared, "I am not a criminal," adding that "this [controversy] will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good."

This past January, US Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that Santos would be removed from office if the House Ethics Committee finds that the scandalous congressman broke the law.