GOP House Leadership Silent on Rep.-Elect George Santos's Lies
(CNN) -- There's a cloud hanging over Republicans' takeover of the House next week -- and for once, it's not former President Donald Trump.Congressman-elect George Santos, whose victory in a New York district last month was key to the GOP flipping the chamber, insists he's coming to Congress despite admitting this week to fabricating key parts of his biography.
There's a growing range of probes into his lies, with CNN reporting Wednesday night that federal prosecutors in New York are investigating his finances and local prosecutors are "looking into" his fabrications.Those falsehoods -- several more of which CNN's KFile uncovered on Wednesday -- combined with Santos' defiance and Republican leadership's silence are setting up the GOP for a fraught first week in power.GOP leadership hasn't even acknowledged the controversy, which is leading to fears among some of Santos' fellow incoming congressmen from the Empire State that his issues could overshadow Republicans' ascent to power."Attempts to blame others or minimize his actions are only making things worse and a complete distraction from the task at hand," Rep.-elect Mike Lawler said in a statement on Wednesday."New Yorkers deserve the truth and House Republicans deserve an opportunity to govern without this distraction," said Rep.-elect Nick LaLota, who was elected to a Long Island district, in a statement Tuesday in which he called for an ethics investigation "and, if necessary, law enforcement" involvement.House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who has not returned CNN's requests for comment about Santos, has been focused on trying to secure the votes for the speakership next month.
