The Home Ethics Committee on Thursday unanimously concluded that Rep. George Santos of New York ought to be referred to the Division of Justice as a result of there may be “substantial proof” that he misused marketing campaign funds, filed false reviews on his donations and engaged in different types of fraud.

The Republican congressman’s conduct “deserves public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the workplace, and has severely discredited the Home,” the committee’s investigative subcommittee mentioned in a scathing report.

The report says that Santos, who beforehand admitted to fabricating a lot of his life story, transferred marketing campaign funds into private accounts to buy luxurious merchandise at Hermès, and that even his said cooperation with the ethics committee was “one more lie.”

“Delegate. Santos sought to fraudulently exploit each side of his Home run for private monetary achieve. He blatantly stole from his marketing campaign. He blatantly stole from his marketing campaign,” the lawmakers mentioned within the report, which was primarily based on greater than 170,000 pages of paperwork — together with monetary statements and communications. Up to date and different materials: “He duped donors into making what they thought have been contributions to his marketing campaign however have been really funds for his private profit.”—and the testimony of dozens of witnesses.

The committee didn’t advocate a selected punishment for Mr. Santos, who faces a federal indictment alleging that he dedicated fraud and misuse of political donations. Ethics reviews with proposed sanctions can take a whole lot of time.

In his response on social media, Mr. Santos introduced that he wouldn’t search re-election, however criticized the ethics report as a witch hunt.

Document: House Ethics Committee Report on Jorge Santos

“If there was an oz of ethics within the Ethics Committee, they’d not have printed this biased report,” he wrote on X. “It’s a disgusting, politicized smear that exhibits the depths of how degenerate our federal authorities is. “Everybody who participated on this harmful miscarriage of justice ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

The report issued by Committee Chairman Michael Visitor, Republican of Mississippi, and Consultant Susan Wild, Democrat of Pennsylvania, indicated that Mr. Santos’ alleged fraud extends past what’s contained within the federal prices.

“In gentle of the continued prison investigation into Consultant Santos, and the COI’s findings relating to extra illegal and unlawful conduct by Consultant Santos, the committee really useful that the committee instantly refer these allegations to the Division of Justice,” the committee mentioned.

Particularly, the Ethics Committee concluded that Mr. Santos, who has denied any wrongdoing, dedicated the next:

• Deliberately brought about his marketing campaign committee to file false or incomplete reviews with the Federal Election Fee.

• Marketing campaign funds have been used for private functions.

• Participating in fraudulent conduct in reference to a restricted legal responsibility firm often called RedStone Methods.

• Participating in willful and understanding violations of the Code of Ethics in Authorities in reference to monetary disclosure statements that legislators present to the Home of Representatives.

The report particulars how the funds have been allegedly transferred from RedStone Methods to Mr. Santos’ private account and “used to, amongst different issues: pay private bank card payments and different money owed; make a $4,127.80 buy from Hermes; and for small purchases at Solely Followers; Sephora And for meals and parking.

Some lawmakers, together with their Republican colleagues within the New York delegation, wish to use the report as motivation for expulsion efforts.

Passing the choice to expel them requires the approval of a two-thirds majority within the Home of Representatives. The measure failed by a vote of 179 to 213 earlier this month, however ethics findings or condemnation might change the calculus of some lawmakers and result in new expulsion efforts.

“A lot of my colleagues wish to hold their hat on a report like (the Ethics Fee report) earlier than they vote sure on expulsion,” New York Republican Rep. Nick Lalotta mentioned. “I believe the content material of the report will push different members to agree.”

Santos pleaded not responsible in Might to federal prices that included wire fraud, cash laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to the Home of Representatives.

The indictment accuses Mr. Santos of utilizing political donations to cowl private bills, making use of for coronavirus unemployment advantages regardless of incomes $120,000 a yr at a Florida funding agency and misrepresenting revenue quantities on Home disclosure types.

A superseding indictment in October alleges he stole donors’ identities and made fraudulent prices on their bank cards. In all, he faces almost two dozen prison prices.

The life story that Mr. Santos created was uncovered shortly after his election victory in 2022. Quite a few reviews revealed that the congressman lied about his schooling, work historical past, and even his Jewish heritage. His fellow lawmakers publicly mocked his resume’s padding and distortions, together with the declare that he was as soon as a star volleyball participant.

The scandal has drawn him the fascination of late-night tv and Web commentators, in addition to harsh criticism from fellow lawmakers.

Nevertheless, a number of lawmakers have referred to as on Santos to resign this yr. He rejected their invites.