George Santos to recuse himself from House committees

Disgraced Rep. George Santos told his fellow Republican lawmakers Tuesday he would step aside from two House committees while various investigations into his campaign’s fundraising practices play out.

In a statement, Santos announced he would “temporarily recuse” himself from the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and Small Business Committee, citing the “ongoing attention surrounding both my personal and campaign financial investigations.”

“This was a decision that I take very seriously. The business of the 118th Congress must continue without media fanfare,” the 34-year-old said. “It is important that I primarily focus on serving the constituents of New York’s Third Congressional District and providing federal-level representation without distraction.”

Since coming to Washington earlier this month, Santos has been regularly swarmed by reporters throughout the Capitol, some of who have been regularly assigned to camp outside his office as the lawmaker rarely takes questions.

Service on committees is the main way House lawmakers exercise their influence over legislation. Removal from committees, voluntary or otherwise, is considered a major action to take against a representative.

Santos made his announcement one day after meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who has stood behind his fellow GOP member for weeks amid mounting pressure and a steady stream of revelations of deceit.

McCarthy on Tuesday told reporters that Santos pitched the idea that he step down at least until he goes before the House Ethics Committee to address concerns over his deceit.

“I think it was an appropriate decision that until he can clear everything up, that he’s off committees right now,” the speaker said. “We had a discussion and he asked me if he could do that, so I thought it was the appropriate decision, yes.”

In his statement, Santos thanked McCarthy for “allowing me to take time to properly clear my name before returning” to his assigned committees. 

“To my constituents, I remain committed to service the district and delivering results for both New York’s Third Congressional District and for the American people.”

But two of Santos’ fellow freshmen New York Republicans, Reps. Nick LaLota and Anthony D’Esposito, on Tuesday, claimed Santos only stepped down because he otherwise would have been forced to do so.

“This is a classic case of someone quitting right before they were going to get fired,” LaLota and D’Esposito said in a joint statement.

“While we, and the overwhelming percentage of Long Islanders we represent, are relieved to see that Santos will not be undeservedly sitting on committees, he should still do the right thing and resign,” the pair added. “This is what is in the best interest of his constituents and House Republicans.”

Santos had been assigned to the committees two weeks ago — despite lying about his name, his religion, being the grandson of Holocaust survivors, the son of a 9/11 victim, working at prominent investment firms, owning real estate, attending college and being a volleyball champion.

The origins of $700,000 that the congressional con artist said he loaned to his 2022 campaign are being probed by federal authorities and the House Ethics Committee — along with numerous reported campaign expenditures that were a penny below the itemization threshold.

Santos had previously said he loaned his campaign the cash after earning it from his consulting company, Devolder Holdings LLC, even though watchdogs said he did not report any client payments of more than $5,000 from the group.

The 34-year-old — who reportedly has deep ties to the cousin of a sanctioned Russian oligarch — had recently walked back statements that he loaned himself the funds, but did not disclose their origins.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for Santos to resign. A Siena College survey from Jan. 18 found that nearly four out of five of his Nassau County constituents feel the same way, including 71% of Republicans.

The former drag queen admitted to The Post he had fabricated his biography last month, following a bombshell New York Times exposé.