As investigations into the background of newly elected Representative Jorge Santos continue, the embattled New York member of Congress said through a representative that he would not be taking over his committee assignments immediately.
A spokeswoman for Santos told Scripps News, “The congressman is reserving his seat on his assigned committees until he is properly cleared from both campaign and personal financial investigations.”
Santos was assigned to two panels: the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy rejected calls from Democrats not to seat Santos.
Instead, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell were eliminated.
Reports have emerged in recent weeks that Santos fabricated his background before being elected to Congress in November 2022. In response, the Nassau County GOP called on Santos to resign despite the possibility that his resignation could gain Democrats a seat in the House.
A survey was released on Tuesday Siena College indicated that 78% of constituents polled wanted him to resign. 75% of those asked said that Santos could not be an effective member of Congress.
Santos won his race in November over Democrat Rob Zimmerman by a 52–44 margin.
