New York lawmakers serving alongside embattled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., including four who flipped their districts in 2022, say they're being besieged by Democrats using Santos as "a bludgeoning tool."
Politico reported that four newly elected New York Republicans are publicly critical of Santos— including by pushing legislation to sanction Santos financially — but it hasn't insulated them from Democrats trying to tie them to Santos.
"He is a bludgeoning tool the Democrats are using without regard for truth. They're lying about us in relationship to him," Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., told Politico. "And he's caused us every day to have to respond to his very existence in the House of Representatives, instead of giving 100 percent of our time to the important issues that Americans and the people who sent us to Washington care about."
Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., told Politico: "Every time that we're having a conversation we seem to be talking about George Santos."
Santos is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee after revelations that he lied about core components of his educational and professional background. His problems are worrisome for colleagues.
"At a minimum, donors who gave to him want to spend time on the phone speaking about what's the latest and how can we hold him accountable. And then others are scared off," first-term Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., told Politico.
"I guess some of them are embarrassed that they are now associated with this scam. And they're not so eager to pick up the phone when a politician is asking for their support again — because the last time they did it, their name wound up in a paper associated with probably the most terrible person in Long Island politics."
Santos dismisses the attacks from colleagues.
"I don't believe it. I think that's just platitudes," he said about the criticism, Politico reported. "And they're making stuff up as they go just to find excuses to do what they're doing.
"The reality is simple: I was never a part of the little boys' club, and they hated me from the moment I got the nomination to the moment I got elected."
After D'Esposito spearheaded a bill designed to prevent lawmakers convicted of certain offenses from profiting off their story in the form of book deals, paid speeches, or movie and TV contracts, Santos pushed back on Twitter.
"Coming from a man who lost his NYPD issued GUN while he was DJ'ing at a party! Then assaulted a 72 year old senior WOMEN," Santos tweeted about D'Esposito, before deleting the post. "You sir are the example of a bad cop who give cops a bad name. Spare me."
Santos' New York colleagues say the more he talks, the bigger problems he generates.
"He should focus on the investigations that are underway and at least show some remorse. And he's not, and that is what is so troubling," Molinaro told Politico.
Constituents "want answers to troubling questions about why he is still in Congress," LaLota added. "They deserve those answers."
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