(DailyVantage.com) – Rep George Santos (R-NY), who has been embroiled in controversy ever since he came clean about lying on his resume this past December, has stepped down from his two committee assignments.
Santos was previously assigned to both the Small Business Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The embattled freshman Congressman, in a closed-door meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and others in House leadership, reportedly called his presence a “distraction” to the now Republican controlled Congress.
The move to step down from his committee assignments, according to both Santos and Speaker McCarthy, is a temporary measure. He will reportedly resume his positions once his ethics concerns are cleared up.
Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who was also present during the meeting with Santos, told reporters that “he (Santos) asked that we all support him when everything settles down for him to serve on committees.”
Greene knows all too well what it’s like to be a Congressman (or rather, Congresswoman) without any committee assignments. In February of 2021, Congress made a bold statement by voting to kick Greene off of her committees.
Greene was expelled from her assignments for her provocative comments about Democrats as well as for openly endorsing controversial and unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.
Santos, much like Greene, does not intend for his committee seat vacancy to be permanent. When Santos will return as a fully functioning member of the House remains unclear. It is incumbent on him first to win back his constituents in New York’s third district who are uncertain about the man they elected.
Other freshman Republicans from New York agreed that Santos needed to step down from his committee assignments. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on Tuesday said “I think it’s obvious, it’s the right decision.” Rep Marc Molinaro also supported Santos’s decision.
When Santos will return to his committees, for now, is up in the air.
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