George Santos files paperwork that would allow him to run for reelection

Scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos filed paperwork Tuesday with federal regulators formally declaring his 2024 candidacy.

The formal declaration doesn’t imply that the embattled congressman has to pursue reelection. The Lengthy Island Republican’s motion follows a requirement final month from the Federal Election Fee that he declare his intentions after he crossed a fundraising threshold that required him to file an announcement of candidacy.

Final week, when requested by CNN’s Melanie Zanona whether or not he’d run for workplace once more, Santos answered, “Perhaps,” and acknowledged that a few of his fellow Republicans had urged him to not search reelection. However he stated he was targeted on his present job in Congress.

Santos, who has lied extensively about his resume, schooling and household background, faces federal and native investigations into his funds. A Home Ethics Committee probe into whether or not he might have engaged in illegal exercise in his 2022 marketing campaign seems to be ramping up, with the panel this week searching for extra particulars about allegations in opposition to the congressman from a former perspective staffer.

Tuesday was the deadline for Santos to answer federal regulators’ demand. The freshman has confronted repeated questions in regards to the accuracy of his marketing campaign’s filings with the FEC and the id of his treasurer.

Notably, his assertion of candidacy stated that he doesn’t anticipate expending his private funds on a reelection bid.

Among the greatest questions round Santos’ marketing campaign exercise have centered on the monetary windfall that allowed the Republican to report a private mortgage of $705,000 to his profitable 2022 marketing campaign. In Santos’ earlier, failed bid for Congress, in 2020, his private monetary disclosure kind listed no property and a wage of $55,000.

He has stated he earned the cash via his agency, The Devolder Group, however he listed no Devolder purchasers on the monetary disclosure he was required to file final 12 months as a candidate.

The Home Ethics Committee is asking the possible Santos worker to offer particulars about his allegation that Santos sexually harassed him in January – and needs that data inside the subsequent two weeks, in keeping with letters obtained by CNN.

The letters to Derek Myers present that the committee is stepping up its probe after formally asserting its investigation into Santos earlier this month.

The secretive panel has established an investigative subcommittee to probe a variety of allegations in opposition to Santos. The investigators need Myers to protect all related data and produce particulars about his alleged encounter by March 28, in keeping with a letter signed by Ohio Rep. David Joyce, the Republican chairman, and Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the committee’s prime Democrat.

In a grievance filed with the committee final month, Myers alleged that the New York Republican made an undesirable sexual advance towards him throughout a personal encounter in his workplace and was later denied employment there. Santos has denied the claims, saying it’s a “comical” allegation with no benefit.

The committee is searching for all paperwork Myers has to again up the declare, together with details about their alleged January 25 interplay, when the possible staffer alleged that Santos “touched” his groin and invited him to his home whereas noting his husband was out of city. Myers says he declined the alleged advance from the congressman and days later noticed his job provide withdrawn, although he says he had begun work there voluntarily.

Myers informed CNN final month that “there’s no corroborating proof by any means.” He added: “It’s merely going to be his phrase in opposition to mine.”

In his preliminary grievance, Myers additionally requested the committee to probe the association the place he was allegedly working as a volunteer and whether or not that was allowed below Home guidelines.

Santos’ workplace has stated he would “totally cooperate” with the probe. The committee declined to touch upon the letters.

This story has been up to date with extra data.