What George Santos may say this morning

Nov 30, 2023

By Emily Ngo, Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman

Presented by

With help from Jason Beeferman

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., departs a House Republican closed-door caucus to decide who to nominate for speaker of the House, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Washington.

Rep. George Santos is holding an 8 a.m. press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol today. | Alex Brandon/AP

Rep. George Santos wants the first word on what could be his last — or second to last — day in Congress.

The indicted Republican facing imminent expulsion is gathering reporters for an 8 a.m. news conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Exactly what he’ll say is anyone’s guess. He himself may not know.

(Reached for comment, Santos effectively told Playbook to lose his number. Forever.)

So what can we expect from the accused fraudster who, just in recent days, has called himself the “Mary Magdalene of United States Congress” and dared his House colleagues to “put up or shut up”?

Playbook sought predictions from New York Republicans, who were granted anonymity to offer their thoughts:

“Santos will blame the ‘establishment,’ cast himself as a victim for standing up, throw colleagues under the bus for their own sins — be they real or made up — and try to make himself employable after he gets out of prison,” a New York City consultant said.

“My guess is he has a rambling message about how the world is against him, and D.C. is the swamp. Bonus points if he reiterates his fealty to Trump,” an aide to a Long Island official said.

“Pleased to announce Kitara Ravache will be opening for David Copperfield at the MGM Grand for 2024,” an elected official quipped, using Santos’ once drag name.

“Hi, I’m George Santos and I’m here to talk about your car’s extended warranty,” a campaign aide guessed.

“It’s going to be one of the more entertaining press conferences to cap off our year,” a state party official said.

If and when Santos is pushed out — a successful expulsion vote could come today or Friday — the clock starts for the special election for his seat.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days to set a date for the race that must come between 70 and 80 days later.

Party leaders in Nassau County and Queens will deliberate on which candidates they’ll designate to compete for a seat that could help determine which party controls the House in 2025.

The Democrats are likely to pick former Rep. Tom Suozzi.

The Republicans’ options include Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, former cop Mike Sapraicone and Afghan war veteran Kellen Curry.

GOP Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman anticipates a toss-up special election that will attract outsized press coverage and funding.

“With an open seat in a fair-fight district, there will be a lot of money invested by both parties and special interest groups,” he said. — Emily Ngo

IT’S THURSDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.

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WHERE’S KATHY? Making an announcement on youth mental health and speaking at a real estate conference at NYU.

WHERE’S ERIC? Making a street safety announcement, hosting a town hall for older adults and appearing live on News12’s evening newscast.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I hope that Mayor Eric Adam’s, Andrew Cuomo, and all of the others that got sued based on this ridiculous law where someone can be sued decades later, and with no proof, will fight it on being totally unfair and UNCONSTITUTIONAL” – former President Donald Trump on Truth Social coming to the defense of an unlikely pair.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Anti-war activists protest outside of The White House during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking for a cease-fire in Gaza in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani of Queens will lead a five-day hunger strike outside the White House to pressure President Joe Biden to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. | AP

DC HUNGER STRIKE: Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and actress and progressive advocate Cynthia Nixon are among those leading a five-day hunger strike outside the White House to push President Joe Biden to back a permanent cease-fire in Israel.

A temporary cease-fire has been in effect as Hamas has released hostages over the last several days.

Mamdani of Queens has been a staunch critic of Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli communities and military sites.

That’s led to some tensions among Democrats in the state Assembly and has highlighted a generational divide between those elected with backing of the Democratic Socialists of America and more mainline lawmakers.

But Mamdani, who has condemned Hamas’ October attack as “horrific,” has also said a focus needs to also be placed on the Palestinians in harm’s way.

“The bombs that are dropped and the food that is turned away are both consequences of President Biden’s unquestioning support for Israel,” Mamdani said. “We hunger strike to bring the consequences of his policies to his doorstep. We hunger strike to make visible the Palestinians he has dehumanized time and again. We hunger strike for a permanent ceasefire.” — Nick Reisman

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

WHAT CITY HALL IS READING

New York City Mayor Eric Adams reads to Pre-K students on "Reed Across America Day" on Thursday, February 28, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams reads to Pre-K students in February. Hundreds of New Yorkers signed a petition asking Adams to halt any budget cuts to preschool for three and four-year-olds. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

TEMPER TANTRUM: Some 600 New Yorkers have signed a petition calling on Mayor Eric Adams to stop the budget cuts to preschool for three and four-year-olds.

The latest round of cuts includes spending $120 million less a year on early childhood education starting next school year. Adams has said they’re “right-sizing” the universal pre-K program so the city’s no longer paying providers for unfilled seats. They’re planning to shift seats to neighborhoods where there’s more demand, but also cutting about 7,000 open seats.

But the new advocacy organization New Yorkers United for Child Care wants the city to focus on expanding free preschool and include childcare for all kids under five. And they say the cuts to “this vital lifeline” are a bad sign. “We are scared to lose pre-K and 3K, two beloved programs that families have come to depend on as they plan to raise children in New York City,” said co-founder Rebecca Bailin.

Signers of the petition were polled, too, and 71 percent said they spend $20,000 or more on child care each year; 73 percent said they’ve considered leaving the city due to the cost of child care. — Jeff Coltin

More from Albany:

— Rep. Dan Goldman wants state officials to investigate a “price-fixing” scheme that allows landlords to sharply raise rents. (Gothamist)

— Hochul plans to focus on executive action and back away from a controversial housing plan pitched to lawmakers earlier this year. (City & State)

— SUNY’s pandemic response is receiving national recognition. (Spectrum News)

A message from Equinor:

FROM THE DELEGATION

House Speaker Mike Johnson is surrounded by reporters as he walks to the House floor at the U.S. Capitol.

House Speaker Mike Johnson will be in New York for three days, beginning Friday, to raise money for various GOP efforts. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

WEEKEND IN NEW YORK: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s fundraising trip to New York is going to be a three-day swing, people familiar with the plans told Playbook.

The big-ticket donor events underscore how both parties are placing a premium on New York House races with a narrow majority up for grabs in the chamber.

Playing a key role and making appearances at the fundraising events that include donors to former President Donald Trump is Rep. Elise Stefanik. The House GOP Conference chair is leading a $100 million effort in New York to retain the Republican majority.

As Playbook reported this week, Johnson will be in New York on Sunday to help raise money for the state’s GOP House delegation and the joint GOP fundraising committee Grow The Majority NY and later boost Rep. Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley.

But that’s one leg of the Louisiana Republican’s money-raising efforts in New York.

The new speaker will also appear at a Friday event in New York City for the National Republican Congressional Committee. On Saturday, he will be on Long Island to aid freshmen GOP Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota.

And later in the afternoon on Sunday he will appear at another fundraiser for Grow The Majority NY.

That event will feature Vornado’s Haim Chera, a major donor to Trump, and former Rep. Lee Zeldin as hosts. Tickets range from $5,000 to $50,000, according to the invitation. — Nick Reisman

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A new, five-figure Spanish-language digital ad buy targets Nassau County Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Rep. George Santos for supporting House Speaker Mike Johnson and for votes threatening Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and abortion rights. It’s launched by advocacy group Make the Road Action.

In the ad, a Nassau County resident said the two lawmakers “have doubled down on eliminating our freedoms by electing Mike Johnson as their new House speaker.”Santos is on his way out of Congress. D’Esposito has said he does not support a national abortion ban and when asked about Johnson’s extreme views, noted the speaker is entitled to just one vote. — Emily Ngo

ANOTHER PLAYBOOK EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Mike Lawler is privately supporting Nikki Haley to be the Republican nominee for president, according to audio obtained by POLITICO of a meeting he had with constituents last week.

“I personally would like to see Nikki Haley as our nominee,” the Hudson Valley Republican said during an event in Bedford. “I think she did a great job at the United Nations. I think she’s somebody who’s very clear-eyed, articulate. I also think frankly and, I say this with great respect to my seniors, I think it’s time for a little bit younger generation to lead and I would love to see a woman for president.”

In the meeting with constituents, he also said that he didn’t think his endorsement would “sway one person in a primary” but that he wants to at least see a debate between former President Donald Trump and Haley.

Haley only has one congressional endorser, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), and it doesn’t look like Lawler is going to join Norman, at least publicly.

“Congressman Lawler has not made, and does not intend to make, an endorsement in the Republican presidential primary,” Ciro Riccardi, Lawler’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “As he has said previously, he thinks the party’s next candidate should be focused on the future, not the past, and will leave it to the voters to decide the party’s nominee.”

Lawler is facing a potential GOP primary challenge from former Trump administration official William Maloney, Playbook reportedin early November. — Daniel Lippman