Two Democratic members of Congress have asked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to ban gay Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from access to classified information.
In a letter to McCarthy, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) said giving someone so untrustworthy access to sensitive information is a “significant risk”
“The numerous concerning allegations about his behavior over decades put his character into question, and suggest he cannot be trusted with confidential and classified information that would threaten the United states’ national security.”
The letter cited the many allegations against Santos and the numerous investigations he is under. It also emphasized possible ties between Santos and Russia.
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“Recent allegations regarding Congressman Santos’ campaign donations linked to Andrew Intrater and his cousin, sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, should further raise questions about the wisdom of allowing Representative Santos to access any form of classified information.”
Morelle tweeted a link to the letter and stated that Santos “has demonstrated a clear pattern of lies, fraud, and deceit that constitute a severe threat to our national security.”
George Santos has demonstrated a clear pattern of lies, fraud, and deceit that constitute a severe threat to our national security.
— Joe Morelle (@RepJoeMorelle) January 25, 2023
That’s why @RepGregoryMeeks and I are calling on Speaker McCarthy to deny him the opportunity to access classified information.
It is not only Democrats that have been blasting Santos since his life story came crumbling down, and it became clear that almost everything he has ever said about his past is a lie. GOP members of Congress have been badmouthing the freshman representative as well.
On Monday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said, “[Santos] appears to be a bunny boiler,” a reference to a murderous stalker who boils a pet rabbit alive in the 1987 film Fatal Attraction. “He’s nutty as a fruitcake,” Kennedy continued, saying that he would kick Santos out of office if criminal allegations against the freshman legislator prove true.
On Sunday, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the newly appointed Chairperson of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee said on CNN’s State of the Union, “Look, he’s a bad guy.” Comer said he hadn’t introduced himself to Santos “because, you know, it’s pretty despicable the lies that he tells.” Comer said that it’s up to Santos whether or not to resign (Santos has said he won’t). However, Comer added, “Certainly I don’t approve of how he made his way to Congress.”
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said of Santos, “I don’t know how he got through the process, being such an imposter. I don’t know why his opponent didn’t bring this out in the election.”
Additionally, six Republican congresspeople from New York and the Nassau County Republican Party have called on Santos to resign.
But McCarthy has stood by Santos, allowing him to receive committee assignments and recently getting angry with the media for pressing him on the subject. McCarthy denied he is standing by Santos simply because calling for his resignation could cost the Republicans a congressional seat.
“You know why I’m standing by him? Because his constituents voted for him. I do not have the power, simply because if I disagreed with somebody or what they have said that I remove him from elected office…If for some way when we go through Ethics that he has broken the law, then we will remove him. But it’s not my role. I believe in the rule of law. A person is innocent until proven guilty.”
