House Republicans Shun Embattled Rep.-Elect George Santos on First Day in Congress

By Rick Martin First Posted: Jan 04, 2023 01:43 AM EST

Republicans Shun Embattled Representative-Elect George Santos During His First Day of Congress — Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images

Controversial Representative-elect George Santos of New York came to the U.S. Capitol in Washington in hopes of being sworn in. However, he was swarmed by reporters upon his arrival and was shunned by fellow Republicans.

According to the New York Times, the Republican representative-elect, who lied about his resume, particularly regarding his career, education, and Jewish background, spent his first day in Congress as an outcast.

Santos had been ignoring calls and text messages all week and hiding from the public in Long Island and Queens. He only appeared briefly via several conservative outlets but kept on dodging interviews about him lying about his background.

He finally came out of hiding on Tuesday to attend his first session in Congress. Reporters were waiting for him outside his new office in the Longworth Building, trying to have him answer several questions.

Fellow House Republicans kept their distance from the embattled lawmaker, with Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin saying that "the guy who lied about his resume" has "demonstrated he doesn't have a grasp on the truth."

Democrats are calling for him to resign, while members of his party have questioned him about his conduct.

Federal prosecutors are now investigating Santos with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York, which is looking into his finances and financial disclosures.

The Republican district attorney for Nassau County is also reviewing the alleged embellishments on his resume.

He is also in trouble in Brazil, as Brazilian authorities plan to revive fraud charges against him. It is related to a 2008 incident involving using a stolen checkbook and a false name.

George Santos Not Sworn-In as Speakership Drama Unfolded

When George Santos arrived on Capitol Hill, he was expecting to be sworn in. All incoming members of the 118th Congress were scheduled to be sworn in following the vote for House speaker at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

However, the Republicans' division in the House speakership election preoccupied them and delayed Santos' swearing-in.

Several senior House Republicans were fighting with each other on who should be the new Speaker of the House.

Santos voted with the majority of Republicans in support of Kevin McCarthy. The House held three straight votes to elect a speaker during the session, with McCarthy failing to win all three times.

Ohio Republican Jim Jordan is getting much support from a big part of the pro-Trump faction of the Republican party.

Jordan managed to get 20 votes from far-right Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus on the third ballot.

The race for House speakership has been placed on hold at the moment as the Congress adjourned without a House Speaker elected. The voting was set to resume Wednesday.

Santos, the first openly gay GOP member to win a House seat as a nonincumbent, may not support the more radical members of the Republican far-right.

The Associated Press reported that during much of the session, Santos sat by himself on the Republican side of the House floor and was often seen looking at his phone.