Disgraced former Rep. George Santos has suspended his comeback bid to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District, he said Tuesday, insisting his challenge to incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota would “virtually guarantee” that a Democrat will fill the seat in November. .
“I do not want my candidacy to be presented as retaliation against Nick Lalota… Although Nick and I do not have the same electoral record and I remain critical of his abysmal record, I do not want to share the bill and be responsible . for turning the House over to the Democrats,” Santos, who said he was changing his party affiliation from Republican to independent, said in a statement on X.
LaLota was dismissive towards Santos but not of the defiance of Santos himself, who had previously called his former colleague “embarrassing” and “one of the weirdest people I have ever met”, but saying he would take the race “at serious”.
Santos was removed from the House in a historic vote in early December — after an internal campaign led in part by LaLota — and he has pleaded not guilty to pending charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The former congressman’s tenure was also marred by scandals surrounding his background, parts of which he admitted to lying or misrepresenting, although he insisted some details were more routine embellishments to his resume .
Rep. George Santos is surrounded by reporters as he leaves the Capitol after his congressional colleagues voted to expel him from the House of Representatives, December 1, 2023.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Santos suggested Tuesday that this is not the end of his political aspirations, and his digital content creator account on Cameo, selling personalized videos, remains active.
“I (met with) leaders and voters and made the decision to hang in there and stop running this race, THIS YEAR!” he said in his statement.
“The future holds countless possibilities and I am ready, willing and able to pick up the baton and go fight for my country at any time,” he said. “I will continue to participate in the public policy debate and do my part…I will always strive to stand on the right side of history. This is just goodbye for now, I will be back. “
ABC News
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