While Activist Groups Held Santos Accountable, New York House Republicans Failed to Take Action for Months
The Same Members of Congress Who Once Protected Santos Are Now Trying to Take Credit for His Downfall
NEW YORK — This morning, the Republican chairman of the House Ethics Committee introduced a resolution to expel Representative George Santos from Congress. This comes after the House Ethics Committee released its report yesterday on the investigation, outlining the Congressman’s rampant misuse of campaign funds and persistent lies to his constituents.
For nearly a full year, groups on Long Island and across New York have organized, calling on their members of Congress to hold Rep. Santos accountable:
A coalition of over a dozen local groups was formed, including NY Working Families Party, 1199SEIU, Long Island Progressive Coalition, MoveOn, Empire State Voices, Concerned Citizens of NY-03, Courage for America, Students Against Santos, Common Defense, Reach Out America, Long Island Activists, and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action.
Activists and local organizations held 16 in-district protests and other events holding Rep. Santos accountable for his many lies.
Local residents published more than 15 letters to the editor, op-eds, and open letters in local papers, imploring his Republican colleagues to take action.
Now, many of those same representatives who stood by and did nothing are attempting to rewrite history and take credit for Santos’ downfall.
Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices, released the following statement:
“For months, Empire State Voices has stood with our partners on Long Island and across New York, pleading with the New York Republican delegation to hold Representative George Santos accountable. For months our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
We wrote letters and op-eds. We held rallies, protests, and press conferences, but Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams stood by and did nothing. The residents of NY-03 begged to be heard for an entire year, and now those same men who ignored their calls are trying to take credit and a victory lap.”
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
