NYC NOW - November 16, 2023: Midday News

Episode Date: November 16, 2023

An estimated 2 million people will see their criminal convictions automatically sealed in New York under the new Clean Slate Act signed by Governor Hochul this morning. Plus, embattled Representative George Santos has announced this morning that he’s not seeking re-election next year after the House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence that he broke federal law. WNYC’s Michael Hill unpacks the news with senior politics reporter Brigid Bergin.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, November 16th. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill. An estimated 2 million people soon will see their criminal convictions automatically sealed in New York. That's under the new Clean Slate Act. Governor Cathy Hochel signed the law this morning at the Brooklyn Museum. Under the new law, most people will have their convictions sealed after they're

are released from incarceration and complete a waiting period. For misdemeanors, that waiting period is three years, for felonies is eight years, but it will not apply to all crimes. The state will not seal sex crime convictions or class a felonies like murder and arson. Supporters say the law will help people secure housing and work after paying their debt to society. Critics say employers and landlords should be able to know whether someone has been convicted of a crime. Fifty-nine in Sunday now, sunny and a mid-November warm-up today to 63. Tomorrow, increasing clouds in 64 with rain Friday into Saturday when it cools off in the afternoon. A House Ethics Panel says it has found substantial evidence that Republican

Representative George Santos broke federal law. WMIC's Bridget Bergen has been furiously reading the new report, and she joins us now. Bridget, I know this report just dropped and you're still reading it, but tell us so far what you've. That's right, Michael. Well, the subcommittee, which has been conducting an investigation into Congressman George Santos for nearly nine months, found, quote, substantial evidence that the Long Island and Queens lawmaker knowingly committed a series of ethics and possible additional criminal violations. At the conclusion of their investigation, they found that Santos had, Santos, through his campaign, had knowingly filed false or incomplete reports with the Federal

Election Commission, had used campaign funds for personal use. use, engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with a consulting firm known as Redstone Strategies, LLC, and it engaged in knowingly in willful violation of the Ethics in Government Act, as it relates to his financial disclosures filed with the House. The members said that his conduct, quote, warrants public condemnation is beneath the dignity of the office and has brought severe discredit upon the House. You know, Bridget, he just tweeted. I know you probably have not have time to see this because he just tweeted this, but he says he's not going to seek re-election. I'm going to read his statement here from X, the formerly known as Twitter. It says if there was a single ounce of ethics in the ethics committee, they would have not released this bias report. The committee went to extraordinary lengths to smear myself and my legal team about me not being forthcoming. My legal bills suggest. otherwise, George Santos writes. It is a disgusting politicized smear that shows the depths of how low

our federal government has sunk. Everyone who participated in his grave miscarriage of justice should be ashamed of themselves. And he also writes here, Santos, I will remain steadfast in fighting for my rights and for defending my name in the face of adversity. I am humbled yet again reminded that I am human and I have flaws, but I will not stand by as I am stoned by those who have flaws themselves. I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed. Santos also writes, I will, however, not be seeking re-election for second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time. So there it is. We were all wondering whether George Santos would seek re-election to Congress, and it says there, Bridget, that he is not.

Now, two staffers have pleaded guilty to fraud. Santos has survived one expulsion vote in the House. This report does not make any recommendation on another move to expel Santos. So, Bridget, I have to ask you, what's next now? Well, to be clear, he's actually survived two expulsion votes. However, this report has been referred to the full house, and it has also been referred to the Justice Department for what they say. is any additional action that deems appropriate, according to this statement. We should also note that

Santos is currently under federal indictment for 23 criminal charges. He has a trial set to start in September of next year. He has pleaded not guilty. As you heard in that statement, he continues to deny wrongdoing, but it is significant news that he has now said that he will not be running for reelection. That is the first time he has said that. And that sort of clears the way, for the race in the third congressional district to really take on a new dimension. It's not going to be so much about running against Santos. It's going to be running to replace Santos. And this may also give more fuel to the current members who had been trying to push for Santos Oster. The most recent time was a resolution sponsored by fellow Republicans from here in New York to now oust him sooner,

given all the evidence they've amassed in this bipartisan, I will stress, report that was submit to the full body of Congress. And this is the first time we've had a statement like this from him where you said, Bridget, he is not going to seek re-election. I think it may have been hard for a lot of people perhaps to imagine that he, even if he sought reelection, that he would win? Can we even discuss that? Absolutely.

He had lost a lot of support among local Republicans. certainly within New York, certainly within Long Island. The House, excuse me, the Long Island Republican committees had long deserted Santos when some of the initial allegations and reports had emerged, certainly following the indictments back in May, then again last month. And so now, you know, the prospect of his reelection was already looking very, very challenging. His fundraising had been, you know, nearly non-existent. And he clearly has a very big problem on his hands.

As you mentioned, two of the members of his campaign have already pled guilty to charges related to fraud from their time on his campaign. So his trial is set for next September, but there's a status conference scheduled for December. It will be very interesting to watch how that trial evolves from here, particularly given the additional evidence that the Ethics Committee has put into this report. Bridget, are we to draw anything from this report doesn't make any recommendations or about expulsion and another expulsion vote of George Santos or anything like that? And I ask that because we know that the difference between the majority that's held right now in the House of Representatives is a slim one. And George Santos, of course, represents a Republican vote. And the margin there is only eight, I think, the difference.

there's only eight between Democrats and Republicans in the House. Are we to draw any conclusions that a recommendation was not made to remove him now because he is a Republican and therefore it bolsters. It's another Republican vote in Congress? I mean, you're absolutely right, Michael, that the margin is incredibly narrow. He is not just a Republican vote. He is a reliable Republican vote. He will vote with the House Speaker and certainly with the Freedom Caucus.

I think we need to give the House members some time to digest this report, as the rest of us are also reviewing it, to determine if this is the straw that sort of breaks things for Santos and his current time within the Congress. But you're absolutely right that the narrow margin may be enough of a cover for why they did not want to do something at this point. there. As we said, this report just came out. It's the Health Ethics Committee Report on George Santos. So I'm sure we'll have much more on it during the day from Bridget. Bridget, thank you so much. Thanks, Michael. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back this evening.