Former Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was expelled from the House in a historic vote, has launched an independent campaign to reclaim a congressional seat but reported no fundraising activity last month.
According to a recent Federal Election Commission filing, Santos’s new campaign committee did not raise any funds or incur any expenses during March.
George Santos (Credits: People)
Santos, Despite the outstanding controversy over falsifying parts of his resume and background, announced his bid during the State of the Union address, setting his sights on the seat currently held by Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.). LaLota was among the New York Republicans advocating for Santos’s expulsion last year.
The former congressman faces legal challenges, having been indicted twice in the past year. The first set of charges in May included 13 counts related to accusations of misleading donors, improperly obtaining unemployment benefits, and falsifying financial disclosures to the House.
Former Congressman Santos (Credits: GQ)
A second indictment in September added 10 charges, accusing him of inflating campaign finance reports and unauthorized credit card charges to donors. Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In December, following a damning House Ethics Committee report that presented evidence of serious criminal conduct linked to his campaign finances, the House voted to expel him.
He was succeeded by Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who won the seat in a special election earlier this year. Santos’s attempt to re-enter politics comes as he battles these ongoing legal and ethical controversies.
