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Santos Files Ethics Complaints Against Former Colleagues

Former Rep. George Santos, during a Friday night social media tirade, pledged to submit a range of ethics complaints against the lawmakers who were most vocal about removing him.

Mr. Santos promised to file the complaints Monday against Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota, all fellow New York Republicans, along with one against Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat and son of embattled Sen. Bob Menendez.

The disgraced former lawmaker accused the group of various wrongdoings, including insider stock trading, abusing taxpayer money and campaign finance violations. Mr. Santos himself faces 23 federal charges for similar alleged misconduct, as well as wire fraud and money laundering.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to remove him Friday, despite warnings from party leadership of the dark precedent the move could set.

Mr. Santos first targeted Mrs. Malliotakis, accusing her of “questionable stock trading” since joining the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

“Let’s talk about hypocrisy. Can someone ask Nicole MalioStockTips when did she become a savant in stock trading?” he wrote on X.

The former lawmaker alleged that Mrs. Malliotakis’ trading practices “reek” of insider trading “much like Paul Pelosi,” the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, who has been accused of using information from Congress to bolster his portfolio.

“Before joining the committee, the congresswoman didn’t have an active trading habit or a high volume stake,” Mr. Santos said of  Mrs. Malliotakis. “The question is, what set of information is she trading with?”

He then turned to Mr. Lawler, accusing the lawmaker of using a company he owns a stake in, Checkmate Strategies, to pay for “services related to his campaign.”

“The concerning questions are: Is Mr Lawler engaging in laundering money from his campaign to his firm, then into his own pocket?” Mr. Santos said. “I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics be the judge of that.”

Will Kiley, a spokesperson for Mr. LaLota, fired back at Mr. Santos. 

“George is just mad the Congressman has three actual degrees while he lied about having one,” Mr. Kiley told The Washington Times. 

Mr. Santos then accused Mr. LaLota of skipping out on his taxpayer-funded job on the local board of elections to attend law school while still getting paid.

His final promised complaint was against Robert Menendez to determine what the lawmaker knew about his father.

The elder Mr. Menendez has been hit with federal charges concerning a bribery scheme. He has been accused of peddling influence and favors to interests in Egypt.

“I think it’s a fair point to make sure we weed out the doubt surrounding Rep. Menendez and his business associations with his father,” Mr. Santos said.

The Washington Times reached out to each lawmaker for comment on Mr. Santos‘ accusations. 

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