Long Island Republicans demand ouster of Rep. George Santos
NEW YORK — Long Island Republicans on Wednesday demanded the ouster of Rep. George Santos over his seemingly unending lies about his background, education and finances — while a new report said he received a big donation from a crooked relative of a Queens restaurant owner who hosted events for Santos’ campaign.
The leadership of the Nassau County GOP demanded Santos resign or be removed from the Democratic-leaning congressional seat he narrowly won in one of the bigger upsets of the midterm elections.
“He should (not) serve in public service or as an elected official,” Joseph Cairo, Nassau County GOP chair, said at a news conference packed with party leaders. “His lies were not mere fibs. He (has) disgraced the House of Representatives.”
Fellow newly elected Rep. Anthony D’Esposito joined the chorus of demands for Santos to step down.
“George Santos does not have the ability to serve here in the House of Representatives and should resign,” D’Esposito said via video from Washington, D.C.
There was no immediate comment from Santos.
National Republican leaders have sought to dodge questions about Santos, whose district also includes a slice of northeastern Queens.
The GOP holds only a tiny majority in the House of Representatives and can afford to lose no more than four Republican votes to pass anything.
If Santos resigns or is removed from Congress, that number would likely soon drop to three, a potentially major headache for already embattled Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The call came hours after a new published report said Santos scored a huge donation from the crooked relative of a Queens restaurateur whose eatery was used for pricey events by his successful congressional campaign.
The Daily Beast reported that Santos got donations from Rocco Oppedisano, an Italian national whose family runs Il Bacco, an upscale restaurant in Whitestone.
Santos’ campaign splurged on several events at the restaurant including his election night victory party, raising financial questions about whether the donation was legitimate.
Rocco Oppedisano was forced to leave the U.S. under a cloud and pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle 20 illegal Chinese immigrants on a yacht in 2019, the news site said.