A former prospective employee of Rep. George Santos (RN.Y.) has accused him of sexual harassment and violating House ethics, saying Santos touched him inappropriately in his office and rescinded a job offer when the man declined.
Derek Myers announced Friday that he has filed complaints with the US Capitol Police and the House Ethics Committee against the scandal-plagued congressman after briefly working in Santos’ office last month as a “volunteer.”
Since his election last year, Santos continues to face separate federal, local and international investigations following revelations that he lied extensively about his background on the campaign trail.
Myers says that two days into his role, which he said he was told would be a paid position, Santos asked him while they were alone in his office if he had a profile on the dating app Grindr. He said Santos then groped him while they were sitting on a couch, and the congressman allegedly put his hand on Myers’ leg and moved him to his groin.
Myers said Santos invited her to his home that night, adding that her husband was out of town. Myers said he declined the offer and was called to the congressman’s office two days later and the job offer was withdrawn.
“We are creating an investigation into the sexual harassment of [Congressman] Santos, as well as his violation of internal ethics rules regarding volunteering in the workplace by transferring staff to the volunteer with the promise of employment,” Myers said.
Santos’ communications director referred questions to his attorney, Joe Murray, who declined to comment. Tom Rust, the ethics committee’s chief counsel and staff director, declined to comment to HuffPost on Monday. The USPD did not respond to messages seeking confirmation that a police report had been filed.
Tom Williams via Getty Images
Myers said Santos’ office, in explaining the decision not to hire him, cited his 2022 arrest for wiretapping while working as editor-in-chief of an Ohio news website. (The case is ongoing, although news organizations have asked that the charge, a fourth-degree felony, be dropped.)
Myers said he was told his arrest for illegally posting courtroom audio could create “a media firestorm and liability.” However, he said his arrest had already been disclosed and discussed before he received the job offer.
one separate statement, acquitted before of his harassment and ethics charges, Myers said he asked Santos to reconsider his decision not to hire him. He also praised fellow staffers during his examination of Santos and his campaign, which Myers said left their boss “probably distracted.”
Myers claims he secretly recorded his last meeting with Santos and gave Talking Points Memo what he said was audio. According to TPM, the recording includes a moment where Santos admits to lying to one of his employees “like I lied to everyone else.”
Santos “feels awful when you lie, feels awful when he gets caught,” Myers told TPM.
I need help? Visit RAINN’s National Online Sexual Assault Hotline OR National Sexual Violence Resource Center website.
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