SILENT MAJORITY
Top House Republicans are keeping silent about the growing scandal surrounding Long Island/ Queens Congressman-elect George Santos — in the hope he lasts long enough to take his seat and help propel Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to the speakership next week, The Post has learned.
“I know for a fact DC wants him sworn in and voting on leadership,” a New York GOPer with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. “Multiple chiefs [of staff] have verbalized that’s the waiting game they’re in on now. Hoping nothing criminal pops in the next four days.”
Santos announced he would back McCarthy (R-Calif.) to become House speaker when the 118th Congress convenes Tuesday.
On Dec. 19, The New York Times reported that the 34-year-old had lied on the campaign trail about key biographical details such as graduating from college and leading a tax-exempt nonprofit.
On Monday, Santos told The Post in an exclusive interview that he had indeed misled the voters, casting it as “embellishing my résumé.”
McCarthy will lead a conference of 222 Republicans and needs 218 votes from the full House to become speaker. With every Democrat expected to oppose him, McCarthy can only afford four GOP defections.
McCarthy has not yet spoken publicly about Santos, who is being probed by Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly and the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office — with the latter investigation reportedly focusing on his murky finances.
“Republicans all over the state are being pressed on Santos’ lies,” the source added. “Fact is, many of those Republicans literally don’t know the successful businessman Santos, or the working-class Santos, or the fraud Santos. But it’s their burden to carry now.”
While Santos has at least one friend in Washington — far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — he’s become increasingly radioactive in his Long Island-based home district.
“I don’t know what party would endorse him as a candidate,” Nassau County GOP Chair Joseph Cairo told The Post Thursday.
“This Republican Committee will not support George Santos in 2024.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told CNN Wednesday: “I think it’s clear that George Santos has emotional issues, and I think he needs to address those issues with a health-care professional . . . because what he did was not normal and, you know, while I was very angry with him when he first announced that those were lies, the fact of the matter is I feel sad for him now, and I think he needs help.”
Another soon-to-be Long Island GOP congressman, Nick LaLota, has called for the House Ethics Committee to look into Santos, opening up another potential avenue for sanction.
Santos has claimed he made millions selling used luxury goods in recent years, and even lent his own campaign $700,000 — without disclosing any business that would easily account for such wealth.
Santos did not respond to requests for comment Thursday, though he has said in recent days he still plans on serving the full two-year term he won in November.