Monitoring Biden and other Contemporary Events

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Today, four new Republican representatives from New York called on Representative George Santos (R-NY) to resign.

We'll see what happens with this but it's a good sign.

Former New York Election Official Admits to Vote Fraud Scheme

Jason Schofield, a Republican, pleaded guilty to using voters’ personal information illegally to obtain absentee ballots as a Rensselaer County election commissioner.

I don't think so. I've heard one of these four speaking and he definitely did not sound as if he was reciting someone else's words. And it's notable that each of the four are new arrivals in the House.

McCarthy, for one, has stated his preference that Santos stick around. Not that he wouldn't change his mind if he needs to (a benefit of not actually giving a ****). Santos seems to me like he'll only leave if he's forced to do so. Hey, he's getting a regular paycheck plus benefits now!

blatham wrote:

I don't think so. I've heard one of these four speaking and he definitely did not sound as if he was reciting someone else's words. And it's notable that each of the four are new arrivals in the House.

They might well be sincere in their desire to separate themselves from Santos in the minds of their constituents who find him embarrassing. But I don’t think they’re speaking out without the aegis of their party bosses. This way, the party appears to disapprove of Santos without having McCarthy or Scalise or anyone whose words would carry weight do anything to jeopardize their majority.

If the GOP was serious about getting rid of the guy, their leadership would publicly demand he steps down.

If the GOP was serious about getting rid of the guy, their leadership would publicly demand he steps down.

But the public position taken by these four - particularly when placed against leadership's behavior - seems a positive to me.

McCarthy said in his first press conference today that there is a process for removing elected officials. Santos has been recommended to the Ethics Committee for a review and McC will be satisfied with their recommendations.

Republicans are facing criticism after voting for changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) that may significantly weaken its ability to investigate ethical violations by members of Congress.

The House voted to approve a new rules package on Monday, days after electing California Republican Kevin McCarthy as speaker following a protracted series of negotiations with the party's right wing and a nearly unprecedented 15 rounds of voting.

The GOP-led chamber's changes to the OCE, a nonpartisan entity intended to independently review allegations of ethical violations by House members, substantially impacts the office's ability to hire needed staff.

Three of four Democratic-appointed OCE board members will also be removed due to term limits under the changes, leaving Republican-appointed members in nearly full control of the office before Democrats are able to add new members, which may take months.

Last week, a group of 25 advocacy groups condemned the changes in a letter to the House, warning that the OCE would "struggle to perform its core function, dismantling one of the only ways members of Congress are held accountable for ethics violations."

Republican Representative George Santos of New York, who is facing a barrage of backlash and ridicule for lying about his background and qualifications prior to being elected last year, called the changes "fantastic" in an interview with Insider.

Local Republican leaders from Long Island, meanwhile, condemned Santos, R-N.Y., Wednesday as a "pathological liar" and demanded he give up the House seat he won in November.

"He's basically confessed. He needs help," Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who serves as Nassau County's top administrator, said at an emotional news conference. "He's not a normal person. He needs to stop deluding himself that he can continue in Congress."

New York Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., appeared at the event via video link from Washington, D.C., and also called on Santos to step down.

"George Santos does not have the ability to serve here in the House of Representatives and should resign," D'Esposito said.

Four Republican House members from New York called on Santos to step down, including Rep. Nick Langworthy, who also serves as chair of the state GOP organization.

Local GOP officials said they will refuse to work with Santos's office and will instead route any federal concerns through D'Esposito's office.

The head of the Nassau County Republican committee, Joseph Cairo Jr., acknowledged the GOP's internal vetting process failed to catch Santos's deceptions.

"Shame on me for believing people," Cairo said during the news conference, in response to questions from reporters.

"We trusted him. I take responsibility for that. So we will obviously adapt that [vetting] system."

Cairo said he is convinced Santos "continues to lie" to the public about his behavior.

Cutting ties with Santos would be costly for Republicans.

Santos served as a key ally helping McCarthy win a bitter and protracted leadership fight. Santos's vote could also be crucial for the GOP in the narrowly divided House going forward.

If he were to leave office, it would trigger a special election in a battleground district.

Santos currently faces probes by Nassau County's district attorney and by the U.S. attorney' office. Democratic lawmakers have also urged the House Ethics Committee to begin a separate investigation.

I wonder if they – and possibly a few others – might be willing to help avoid a government default when that vote comes up?

That's hysterical given that one of McCarthy's first actions was to gut the committee.

Local Republican leaders from Long Island, meanwhile, condemned Santos, R-N.Y., Wednesday as a "pathological liar" and demanded he give up the House seat he won in November...