Rep Santos Facing House Ethics Probe

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has confirmed that freshman House Rep George Santos (R-NY) is facing a probe from the House Ethics Committee and the GOP will take necessary action in response to the probe's findings.

• McCarthy told CNN, in response to a question asking if Santos will be forced to resign: "Ethics is moving through, and if Ethics finds something, we’ll take action."
• McCarthy's comments are the first confirmation of a probe into Santos' conduct on the campaign trail including numerous fabrications of his personal and professional life and more serious allegations that he misused campaign financing.
• Santos last week recused himself of committee duties but that has done little to quell mounting calls from his Long Island continents to resign from Congress.
• If Santos resigns, it would trigger a special election which most analysts believe would favour Democrats.
• McCarthy currently controls 222 House seats, an effective four-seat majority considering the 218 votes required to pass legislation with a full House present and Santos' case amplifies McCarthy's vulnerability to retirements, illness, or absence of his lawmakers.