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Scandal-hit Republican congressman George Santos ‘asked if aide was on Grindr’

George Santos is under pressure to resign the New York seat he won last November - AP/Mary Altaffer
George Santos is under pressure to resign the New York seat he won last November - AP/Mary Altaffer

George Santos, the Republican congressman under pressure to resign over a series of scandals, has been accused of sexual harassment by a former aide.

The complaint, sent to the House of Representatives ethics committee by Derek Myers, came as it emerged that the FBI was examining allegations that Mr Santos defrauded a navy veteran out of $3,000 (£2,488) which he had raised to care for his dying dog.

Facing a blizzard of allegations over his past after he admitted to lying about his life story while on the campaign trail, the 34-year-old congressman is under mounting pressure to quit the New York seat he won last November.

Mr Myers claims the congressman made inappropriate advances when the two men were in Mr Santos’s office in late January.

He alleges that Mr Santos asked if he had a profile on Grindr, the gay dating app, as well as touching his groin. Mr Myers has also filed a complaint with the Capitol Police.

Derek Myers has sent a complaint to the House of Representatives ethics committee
Derek Myers has sent a complaint to the House of Representatives ethics committee

Meanwhile, the FBI has spoken to Richard Osthoff, the 47-year-old navy veteran who accused Mr Santos of refusing to hand over the cash raised from a pet charity he ran to pay for surgery for his dog.

His complaint is also being investigated by the New York attorney general’s office, which supervises charities in the state.

Adding to Mr Santos’s woes, records from New York City and Florida show he has racked up an estimated $3,400 (£2,823) in unpaid parking and speeding fines, according to US broadcaster CBS.

Should any of the allegations result in a criminal conviction, Mr Santos would not be automatically barred from office.

Even imprisonment would not lead to his automatic disqualification, according to the Congressional Research Service.

His expulsion would require the support of two-thirds of the 435 members of the House of Representatives.

Mr Santos, who has also been accused of lying about being Jewish, his employment history, qualifications and campaign finances, has embarrassed the Republican leadership which holds a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

Nevertheless, Mr Santos has refused to quit Congress - although last week, he stepped down from two congressional committees following talks with Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House speaker.

The Telegraph has approached Mr Santos for comment.