Nassau legislator introduces bill aimed at barring certain individuals from holding office

The laws include mandatory background checks for all candidates, barring anyone with an open foreign arrest warrant from holding office and making it a misdemeanor to lie about a candidate's education, employment history, address, and income sources.

News 12 Staff

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Jan 25, 2023, 12:40 PM

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Updated 695 days ago

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A newly amended campaign finance report is shedding light on embattled Rep. George Santos' campaign cash.

The report comes as Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan introduced the G.E.O.R.G.E. package early Wednesday – a series of laws aimed at barring individuals like Rep. Santos from holding elected office.

The proposed G.E.O.R.G.E. legislation stands for Get Egregious Officials Removed from Government Elections.

The bill includes several proposed laws to safeguard against individuals like Santos from ever getting elected in the first place.

The laws include mandatory background checks for all candidates, barring anyone with an open foreign arrest warrant from holding office and making it a misdemeanor to lie about a candidate's education, employment history, address, and income sources.

Leg. Lafazan delivered the G.E.O.R.G.E. Proposed Legislation to Santos' district staff early Wednesday.

"George Santos does not deserve to serve as a dog catcher, let alone in the United States Congress," Lafazan says.

There are also new details about Santos' campaign cash. The Santos campaign filed newly amended campaign finance reports.

The filings now say a $500,000 loan was given to the Santos campaign, but it did not come from the congressman himself as previously claimed. However, the new filings do not say where that money came from.

In Washington, D.C., reporters asked Santos about his campaign cash.

Santos responded, saying, "Sir - let's make it very clear. I don't amend anything, I don't touch any of my FEC stuff, right? So, don't be disingenuous and report that I did because you know every campaign hires fiduciaries."

News 12 has also learned Rep. Santos told a podcast in Brazil that there was an assassination attempt against him. He also reportedly said he was mugged in New York City, but there is no proof, and that his home was vandalized in January of 2021.

The congressman has not responded to News 12's request for comment.

Former donor of Rep. Santos' campaign says he feels betrayed as congressman continues being caught in apparent lies

On Wednesday, two congressional Democrats also asked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to restrict Santos' access to classified information - saying he cannot be trusted with it.