The temporary resignation from the committee marks the first major concession by Santos after weeks of staunchly resisting any consequences for his fabrications.
Discussing the private meeting, one Republican lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Santos said at the meeting that he would resign because “he’s a distraction.” The conversation came a day after Santos met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Tex.) said he understands the withdrawal is temporary until Santos is cleared of the ongoing investigation. The 34-year-old freshman Republican faces increasing scrutiny, including a federal probe into his campaign finances and local probes into his résumé falsification, as misrepresentations about his experience, personal life and education were revealed.
“It surprised me, but it was probably the right decision,” Williams said.
“With the ethics investigation pending, I think this is the right decision,” the congressman said. Michael Lawler (RN.Y.), who also called on Santos to resign.
After the meeting, Santos declined to comment, saying: “If you want details related to the committee, I think you should talk to the leadership.”
The announcement came on the same day that polls in his district showed a strong majority of voters thought he should resign. A Newsday-Siena College poll found that more than three-quarters of registered voters in New York’s 3rd Congressional District said he should leave office.
Santos has given no indication that he intends to give up the seat voluntarily.
Republicans in his Long Island district and several members of the House GOP called on Santos to resign. McCarthy, a Republican with a slim majority, rejected those calls, however. Republican leadership has avoided berating Santos, and others have not called for his resignation.
The Rep. was asked if she regretted supporting Santos after news broke that Santos had quit the committee. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) said voters picked him.
“This process will end on its own,” the No. 3 House Republican said on Tuesday. “But ultimately, voters will make that decision.”
Democratic leaders, who have repeatedly called for Santos’ resignation, questioned Santos’ latest expropriation and the Republican response.
“I’m just appalled at how disorganized, disorganized and dysfunctional the GOP conference is,” said the Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said. “They defended putting him on the committee, and now they’re announcing that he won’t be on the committee. So I just don’t understand what the drama is today.”
Santos’ move comes as McCarthy is trying to win Republican votes to kick out the House of Representatives. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) leaves the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The speaker is determined to deliver on a years-long promise after Democrats ousted two Republicans — the House of Representatives. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) – from the committee supporting political violence against Democrats on social media.
McCarthy said he wanted to remove Omar from the committee because of “repeated anti-Semitic and anti-American rhetoric,” referring to her use of anti-Semitic tropes and comparisons to U.S. actions terrorist organizationshe later clarified, “In no way am I equating a terrorist organization with a democracy with a well-established judicial system.”
But McCarthy faces opposition from House Republicans. Victoria Spartz (Indiana), Ken Buck (Colorado) and Nancy Mace (South Carolina). Republicans have a narrow majority, allowing them to lose just four votes to pass any bill. If the Rep., that margin drops to three. Greg Stubb (R-Fla.) is recovering at home from a fall injury.
John Wagner contributed to this report.