George Santos Withdraws 2024 Congressional Bid Amid Ongoing Controversies

Former U.S. Representative George Santos announced on Tuesday that he is dropping his longshot bid to return to Congress in 2024. Santos, who was facing a slew of federal fraud charges, had been running as an independent candidate for the 1st Congressional District in New York. However, his campaign committee reported no fundraising or expenditures in March, raising speculation that his campaign had failed to get off the ground.

Santos was previously expelled from the House in December 2023 following a damaging ethics committee report that determined there was "overwhelming evidence" of lawbreaking and that he "cannot be trusted." He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that include deceiving Congress about his wealth, stealing from his campaign, and obtaining unemployment benefits he didn't deserve.

In his announcement, Santos cited a desire to not split the ticket and hand the House to the Democrats. "I don't want my run to be seen as a reprisal against [Republican Rep.] Nick LaLota," Santos said. "I don't want to split the ticket and be responsible for handing the House to [Democrats]."

Santos had initially announced plans to run against LaLota in a Republican primary, but later said he was leaving the Republican Party and would run as an independent. His trial on the federal charges is set to begin on September 9th in the Eastern District of New York.

Why this matters: Santos' short but scandal-plagued tenure in Congress and his subsequent legal troubles have made him a national figure and raised questions about the vetting process for political candidates. His withdrawal from the 2024 race marks the latest chapter in a controversial political career.

Despite withdrawing from the 2024 race, Santos did not rule out seeking office in the future. "It's only goodbye for now, I'll be back," he stated. Santos said he will continue to participate in the public policy discussion and will strive to "stand on the right side of history."

Key Takeaways

• George Santos drops 2024 congressional bid amid federal fraud charges.
• Santos was previously expelled from the House in Dec 2023 due to ethics violations.
• Santos cited not wanting to split the Republican vote and hand the House to Democrats.
• Santos' trial on federal charges is set to begin on Sept 9 in New York.
• Santos did not rule out seeking office in the future, vowing to "be back".