Residents of New York’s 3rd Congressional District called on Republican U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito to co-sponsor legislation to expel U.S. Rep. George Santos from office in a letter sent to the congressman Friday.

Concerned Citizens of NY-03, a nonpartisan, ad hoc group of Santos constituents, implored D’Esposito to co-sponsor a resolution introduced by House Democrats in February calling for the embattled congressman’s resignation. The group cited D’Esposito’s previous criticism of his fellow Republican congressman in the letter.

“Aren’t you tired of being demeaned by having Santos as your colleague?” the letter states. “Saying you want this criminal expelled is merely ‘lip service’ if you don’t actually take the action of cosponsoring [the resolution] and collaborate with your colleagues to pressure” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to oust Santos.

Immediate efforts to reach D’Esposito or a representative from his office regarding the letter were unavailing.

D’Esposito, a Republican representing New York’s 4th Congressional District, was elected to the House in November, flipping a seat previously held by Democrat Kathleen Rice. He previously said his office plans to help out the constituents of the 3rd District as multiple investigations into Santos continue.

D’Esposito was one of many Nassau-based Republicans who called for Santos to step down from office after lies the congressman made about his personal, professional and financial background were unearthed earlier this year. He was also quoted saying his Republican counterpart is “a stain on the institution.”

“It has become clear that Congressman George Santos’ many hurtful lies and mistruths surrounding his history have irreparably broken the trust of the residents he is sworn to serve,” D’Esposito said in January. “For his betrayal of the public’s trust, I call on Congressman George Santos to resign.”

D’Esposito also introduced a pair of bills in March that would prevent members of Congress from financially profiting off breaking election laws aimed at Santos.

The No Fame for Fraud Resolution and No Fortune for Fraud Acts would bar any current or former members of Congress who were indicted or found guilty of violating the Federal Election Act of 1971 or lost their congressional pension through other violations to financially profit from their transgressions.

The legislation would prevent members who fall under the parameters of the bills to take compensation for biographies or media appearances based on their crimes, among other things. 

“I am committed to advancing good, accountable government here in our nation’s capital, and that includes preventing elected officials who broke the public’s trust from profiting from their misdeeds,” D’Esposito said in a statement about the bill.

The Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit organization that aims to advance democracy through the law, questioned the newly elected congressman’s influx of wealth after he reported a salary of $55,000 in 2020, which rose to $750,000 in 2022 and $1 million to $5 million in dividends.

The organization also called the congressman’s $705,000 loan to his campaign into question, claiming he falsified reports on nearly 40 expenditure filings under $200.

The center filed the complaint with the Federal Election Commission and the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in January.

“Con artists, liars, and fabulists who lied their way into Congress should not be able to monetize their lies, and this legislative package would ensure they are unable to do so,” D’Esposito said. “I spent the greater part of my career keeping criminals off the streets of New York, and now I want to keep fraudsters out of the halls of Congress.”  

The FBI is also currently investigating Santos’ role in allegedly scamming a homeless, disabled veteran out of thousands of dollars that would have been used to care for the man’s service dog.