Rep. George Santos says he will recuse himself from committee assignments amid investigations - NBC News

WASHINGTON — Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Tuesday helium volition recuse himself from his committee assignments amid aggregate ongoing investigations into his finances and different issues.

“With the ongoing attraction surrounding some my idiosyncratic and run fiscal investigations, I person submitted a petition to Speaker McCarthy that I beryllium temporarily recused from my committee assignments until I americium cleared," Santos said successful a statement.

“This was a determination that I instrumentality precise seriously,” helium added. “The concern of the 118th Congress indispensable proceed without media fanfare. It is important that I chiefly absorption connected serving the constituents of New York’s Third Congressional District and providing national level practice without distraction.”

Santos, who has admitted to lying astir overmuch of his background and has faced numerous calls to resign from Congress, was assigned seats connected the House Small Business and Science committees. He told reporters Tuesday that helium is not considering leaving office.

He shared his determination during a closed-door gathering Tuesday greeting with the House GOP Conference, Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., told reporters astatine a quality league afterward.

Santos, however, has not gone acold capable successful the eyes of 2 chap Republicans representing legislature districts connected Long Island.

"This is simply a classical lawsuit of idiosyncratic quitting close earlier they were going to get fired," said. Reps. Nick LaLota and Anthony D'Esposito successful a associated statement. "While we, and the overwhelming percent of Long Islanders we represent, are relieved to spot that Santos volition not beryllium undeservedly sitting connected committees, helium should inactive bash the close happening and resign. That is what is successful the champion involvement of his constituents and House Republicans."

In a poll released Tuesday from Newsday and Siena College, 71% of voters successful Santos’ territory said Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., should not person seated Santos connected the 2 committees and 78% said they believed helium should resign from Congress. Asked Tuesday if Santos should measurement down, Stefanik said the “process volition play itself out” successful the adjacent election.

Santos is nether probe by the Nassau County territory attorney and federal prosecutors successful New York. Law enforcement sources person said national authorities are examining his finances, including imaginable irregularities involving fiscal disclosures and loans helium made to his campaign. The authorities lawyer general’s bureau has besides said it’s “looking into a fig of issues” regarding Santos.

The embattled congressman met with McCarthy connected Monday night. Speaking to reporters separately Tuesday, McCarthy said that Santos had asked the talker if helium could recuse himself from his committee assignments. "I deliberation it was the due decision," McCarthy said.

Santos told reporters Tuesday that McCarthy didn't petition the recusal. "Nobody tells maine to bash anything. I made a determination connected my own," helium said.

The GOP Steering Committee, which is led by McCarthy and doles retired committee assignments, voted earlier this period to springiness Santos slots connected the panels, which are 2 of the lower-profile ones connected Capitol Hill.

“The voters person elected him and he’ll person a dependable present successful Congress, and until helium answers each those questions, past astatine that time, he’ll beryllium capable to beryllium seated connected committees,” McCarthy said astir the investigations Santos faces.

Members of some parties had expressed concerns astir Santos having entree to classified accusation done his enactment connected committees. At the aforesaid time, each lawmakers are capable to periodically beryllium successful connected classified briefings specified arsenic those provided by medication officials.

Last week, McCarthy said that portion helium stands by Santos, the freshman congressman volition beryllium removed from bureau if the House Ethics Committee finds helium broke the law.

Santos archetypal came nether scrutiny aft The New York Times published a bombshell investigation successful December indicating that overmuch of his résumé appeared to person been manufactured, including claims that helium owned galore properties, was antecedently employed by Goldman Sachs and Citigroup and had graduated from Baruch College. He has besides lied astir however his parent was astatine the World Trade Center during the 9/11 violent attacks.

The congressman has repeatedly said helium plans to explicate the inconsistencies but has not followed done connected those promises.