Malliotakis, Stefanik, Tenney Refuse to Act Despite Majority of NY GOP Delegation Calling for Santos’ Resignation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a growing number of GOP members of Congress put pressure on Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to force Rep. George Santos (NY-03) to resign, several of Santos’ fellow New York representatives — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), and Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24) — have thus far refused to join the call for accountability.

“Congressman Santos has conned his party, his fellow members of Congress, and — most shamefully — his constituents,” said Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to the House Accountability War Room. “While other members of their delegation have called for accountability, a few members have chosen cowardly deflection over principles. It’s time for every member of the New York congressional delegation to speak out, take action, and stop Santos from lying his way to the top.”

Some members of New York’s GOP delegation have made it clear they are aware of George Santos’ actions, but have stopped short of calling for real accountability:

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) ”On whether he should resign, [Malliotakis] told me that’s between him & his constituents. […] Should he get a committee assignment? She said if he’s going to be in DC, he should be on a committee.” – from Kevin Frey, Spectrum News
Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21): “It will play itself out. He’s a duly-elected member of Congress. There have been members of Congress on the Democrat side who have faced investigations before.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24) “blamed Santos’ lies on President Joe Biden saying that he ‘sets a bad example for young people like George Santos.’”

Other members of New York’s GOP delegation that have made it clear they are calling for George Santos’ resignation:

Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01): “With Santos neither taking ownership of his lies nor demonstrating respect for the office he fraudulently obtained — as evidenced by Santos flashing a ‘White Power’ sign on the House floor last week — I am now calling on Santos to resign.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) called on Santos to resign. D’Esposito said he “will not associate with him in Congress and I will encourage other representatives in the House of Representatives to join me in rejecting him.” D’Esposito added, “For his betrayal of the public’s trust, I call on Congressman George Santos to resign.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) told CNN that George Santos can’t serve his district effectively anymore.
Rep. Marcus Molinaro (NY-19): “There’s no way I believe he can fully fulfill his responsibilities.”
Rep. Brandon Williams (NY-22): “As more revelations become public, I concur with the Nassau Republicans’ decision to request George Santos’s resignation. Their constituents in NY-3 elected Representative Santos in party due to his biographical exaggerations and apparent deceptions. He must resign.”
Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23 & New York GOP Chairman): “I support the Nassau Republicans’ decision today to request the resignation of George Santos. It’s clear that he cannot be an effective representative and it would be in the best interest of the taxpayers to have new leadership.”

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