George Santos Ouster Proposed by LGBTQ House Democrats

(Bloomberg) -- Several House Democrats who identify as LGBTQ introduced a resolution Thursday to expel embattled Republican George Santos, pointing to his false statements about the victims of the 2016 Pulse night club shooting.

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Santos, who is openly gay, told New York Public Radio that four of his employees were among the 49 victims at the 2016 shooting at the Orlando gay club. A New York Times investigation found that none of the victims appear to have worked at the various firms named in the New York Republican’s biography.

“Particularly disturbing to us in the LGBTQ+ community, is the lie about the largest mass shooting in recent history, so it’s just unacceptable,” Representative Robert Garcia told Bloomberg News on Thursday.

The Pulse attack was the largest targeted shooting against the LGBTQ community and has the second-most fatalities of any shooting in recent US history.

“It’s time for us to take action,” said Garcia, the first openly gay immigrant elected to the House.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who controls floor time in the House, has said Santos could be removed from office if the chamber’s Ethics Committee determined that he had broken the law — but not until then.

Garcia, a California Democrat, is pushing the resolution with two other freshmen who identify as LGTBQ — Rebecca Balint of Vermont and Eric Sorensen of Illinois.

Ritchie Torres of New York and David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who are both gay, have signed as co-sponsors. Dan Goldman of New York and Ted Lieu of California are also behind the resolution.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Thursday morning he has not read the resolution but believes House GOP members are coddling Santos.

“George Santos is a complete and utter and total fraud,” Jeffries said.

--With assistance from Erik Wasson.

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