Santos threatens slew of ethics complaints in opposition to former colleagues
Former Rep. George Santos, throughout a Friday evening social media tirade, vowed to file a slate of ethics complaints in opposition to the lawmakers who had been most vocal about ousting him.
Mr. Santos promised to lodge the complaints Monday in opposition to Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota, all fellow New York Republicans, together with one in opposition to Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat and son of embattled Sen. Bob Menendez.
The disgraced former lawmaker accused the group of various wrongdoings, together with insider inventory buying and selling, abusing taxpayer cash and marketing campaign finance violations. Mr. Santos himself faces 23 federal prices for comparable alleged misconduct, in addition to wire fraud and cash laundering.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to oust him Friday, regardless of warnings from get together management of the darkish precedent the transfer may set.
Mr. Santos first took intention at Mrs. Malliotakis, accusing her of “questionable stock trading” since becoming a member of the highly effective House Ways and Means Committee.
“Let’s talk about hypocrisy. Can someone ask Nicole MalioStockTips when did she become a savant in stock trading?” he wrote on X.
The former lawmaker alleged that Mrs. Malliotakis’ buying and selling practices “reek” of insider buying and selling “much like Paul Pelosi,” the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, who has been accused of utilizing info from Congress to bolster his portfolio.
“Before joining the committee, the congresswoman didn’t have an active trading habit or a high volume stake,” Mr. Santos mentioned of Mrs. Malliotakis. “The question is, what set of information is she trading with?”
He then pivoted to Mr. Lawler, accusing the lawmaker of utilizing an organization he owns a stake in, Checkmate Strategies, to pay for “services related to his campaign.”
“The concerning questions are: Is Mr Lawler engaging in laundering money from his campaign to his firm, then into his own pocket?” Mr. Santos mentioned. “I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics be the judge of that.”
Mr. Santos then accused Mr. LaLota of skipping out on his taxpayer-funded job on the native board of elections to attend legislation faculty whereas nonetheless getting paid.
His last promised criticism was in opposition to Robert Menendez to find out what the lawmaker knew about his father.
The elder Mr. Menendez has been hit with federal prices regarding a bribery scheme. He has been accused of peddling affect and favors to pursuits in Egypt.
“I think it’s a fair point to make sure we weed out the doubt surrounding Rep. Menendez and his business associations with his father,” Mr. Santos mentioned.
The Washington Times reached out to every lawmaker for touch upon Mr. Santos‘ accusations.