Former Representative George Santos has withdrawn from his independent bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, representing Long Island. The announcement came months after Santos was ousted from his seat due to allegations of wrongdoing.In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Santos expressed his desire to prevent the Republican vote from being divided, which could potentially hand the seat to the Democrats. He cited his differences with incumbent GOP opponent Nick Lalota but stated that he did not want to be responsible for splitting the vote.Santos’ decision follows his surprise appearance at President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address, despite being expelled from Congress just months earlier. He has consistently denied the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty. Santos is currently facing 23 federal criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. The charges stem from an investigation launched by the House Ethics Committee in March 2023 and subsequent indictments by the Department of Justice. Despite the legal challenges he faces, Santos has remained active in public discourse and continues to participate in policy discussions.
George Santos Withdraws from Independent Bid for House Seat
