Disgraced former Rep. George Santos announced on Tuesday that he is suspending his long shot comeback bid to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District. Santos emphasized that his challenge against incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota would “all but guarantee” a Democrat winning the seat in November.
“I want to make it clear that my decision to run is not a personal attack on Nick Lalota. While Nick and I may have different voting records and I have expressed my concerns about his poor track record, I do not want to divide the party and risk giving the Democrats control of the house,” said Santos in a statement on X. Despite changing my party affiliation from Republican to independent, my intention is not to seek revenge but to bring about positive change and represent the interests of the people.”
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LaLota has shown a lack of respect towards Santos, criticizing him personally by calling him an “embarrassment” and “one of the most bizarre people I have ever met.” Despite this, LaLota acknowledges the seriousness of Santos’ challenge and has stated that he will take the race seriously.
Santos faced a historic vote in early December which resulted in his removal from the House. LaLota played a significant role in leading an internal campaign against him. Santos has pleaded not guilty to various charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
During his tenure in office, the former congressman faced significant controversy due to the scandals surrounding his background. He admitted to lying about or distorting certain aspects, but he maintained that some details were merely embellishments commonly found on resumes.
According to Santos, he indicated on Tuesday that his political ambitions are far from over. He also mentioned that his Cameo account, where he offers personalized videos as a digital content creator, is still up and running.
“I have met with leaders and constituents, and I have made the decision to end my pursuit of this race for this year,” he stated.
“I am ready, willing, and able to step up to the plate and fight for my country at any time,” he confidently declared. “I will actively engage in the public policy discussion and fulfill my responsibilities… I will constantly strive to be on the right side of history. This may be goodbye for now, but rest assured, I will return.”
