Former U.S. Rep. George Santos of New York has announced his decision to leave the Republican Party and run as an independent in a bid to return to Congress. Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives while facing federal fraud charges, expressed his disillusionment with the GOP following their approval of a $1.2 trillion spending package.
Santos had previously declared his intention to challenge Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in the GOP primary for an eastern Long Island district. The Democratic candidate for the same seat is John Avlon, a former CNN anchor.
In December, Santos was expelled from Congress after a House Ethics Committee report found 'overwhelming evidence' of lawbreaking. He faces charges of lying to Congress about his wealth, fraudulent receipt of unemployment benefits, and misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses.
A trial for Santos has been tentatively scheduled for September, following his plea of not guilty to the charges. Despite his expulsion and legal troubles, Santos has continued his political ambitions, prompting criticism from New York Republicans.
Republican Rep. LaLota condemned Santos, stating that his expulsion was beneficial and that Santos' resignation from the party is a positive move for conservatives. Suffolk County GOP chair Jesse Garcia also criticized Santos, dismissing his actions as a pursuit of celebrity status.
In response to LaLota's support for the spending package, Santos took to social media to express his opposition and vowed to challenge both LaLota and Avlon in the upcoming election.
