George Santos gets two House committee assignments
Washington DC - George Santos, the lying congressman from New York, has been given two committee assignments in the House, even as he faces multiple investigations and calls to resign.
Santos, who has admitted to lying about huge portions of his resume and failed to provide satisfactory answers about his questionable campaign finances, on Tuesday was assigned seats on the House Small Business Committee and House Science, Space and Technology Committee, The Hill reported.
Earlier that day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended his disgraced colleague and vowed to give him committee assignments in the 118th Congress.
Santos has come under intense scrutiny, even from fellow Republicans, amid questions over the source of the money he used to fund his bid for Congress. He loaned $700,000 to his campaign, but just two years prior, he had reported no assets and a salary of $55,000 per year. His ties with Andrew Intrater, the cousin of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, are also coming under the spotlight.
As if that weren't enough, Santos has also made misleading claims about his career and educational history and Jewish heritage. He is currently facing charges of fraud in Brazil and is under investigation by county and federal prosecutors in the US.
Many had called for McCarthy not to seat Santos on any committees in light of the concerning list of allegations against him.
What do the two House committees do?
While resisting calls for Santos' resignation, McCarthy had previously said he would not seat the freshman congressman on any of the top House committees, including Appropriations, Ways and Means, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce.
The House GOP Steering Committee, comprised of 30 members of House leadership and regional representatives, has reportedly chosen to seat Santos on the House Small Business Committee, as well as the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Although these two committees may be less influential than others, they are by no means insignificant.
The Small Business Committee was responsible for implementing the Paycheck Protection Program during the Covid-19 pandemic. The House Science, Space and Technology Committee deals with the National Weather Service and energy, astronautical, and marine research.
Santos had previously said he hoped to serve on the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees.
Many Democrats and Republicans alike are calling for Santos to face a House Ethics probe into his shady conduct on the campaign trail.
Cover photo: WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP