Former New York Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House and is facing federal charges, has announced his decision to withdraw his bid for Congress in New York’s 1st District. Santos cited his desire to avoid his run being perceived as retaliation against Nick Lalota, stating, 'Although Nick and I don’t have the same voting record and I remain critical of his abysmal record, I don’t want to split the ticket and be responsible for handing the house to Dems.'
Earlier, Santos had declared his departure from the Republican Party and had intended to pursue his congressional comeback bid as an independent candidate. However, after meeting with leaders and constituents, he has chosen to halt his campaign for this year, emphasizing that he remains prepared to serve his country in the future.
Santos, who has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds, and providing false information about his personal finances on House disclosure reports, expressed his commitment to continue engaging in public policy discussions. He affirmed, 'I will always strive to stand on the right side of history. It’s only goodbye for now, I’ll be back.'
