“Investigation Launched into Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Ethical Breach Against Republican Congressman George Santos”

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Embattled Republican Congressman George Santos is being accused of sexual misconduct by a former adviser.

Derek Myers, 30, also accused Mr Santos of an ethical breach for letting him volunteer.

A job offer to Mr Myers was later withdrawn, and Mr Santos told the Semafor news agency he was concerned about wiretapping allegations the aide had faced during his previous work as a journalist.

The allegations are the latest in a series of controversies for Mr Santos.

The BBC has reached out to the Congressman’s office for comment.

Speaking on Twitter on Friday, Mr. Myers said he had filed a complaint with Capitol Police and wrote a letter to the House Ethics Committee, which can investigate violations of House Rules related to incidents he alleges happened during his short Time spent at Mr. Santos office.

The letter, which he posted online, details his allegations against Mr Santos. He said he was offered a position as his assistant in the Long Island congressman’s office late last month.

The 34-year-old has faced mounting resignation calls after admitting to making up parts of his resume and biography since being elected in New York last year.

He also faces multiple investigations into his campaign spending and financial reports. He had previously denied wrongdoing.

According to Mr Myers, on January 25, Mr Santos asked him if he had a profile on Grindr, a popular LGBT dating app. Mr. Santos then allegedly told him he had a profile on Grindr, Mr. Myers said.

On another occasion that same day, Mr. Myers was alone with Mr. Santos in the congressman’s office sorting through mail.

“He called me ‘dude’ and insisted I sit next to him on the sofa,” Myers wrote. “I proceeded with a discussion on the Post, but the congressman stopped me by putting his hand on my left leg near my knee.”

Mr. Myers claimed the congressman then invited him to karaoke, which he declined, and proceeded to “take his hand and move it down my leg into my inner thigh,” where it “touched” his groin.

Next, Mr. Myers said Mr. Santos told him his husband was away for the night and invited him to come over.

“I quickly pushed the congressman’s hand away and picked up the mail from the table and proceeded to discuss the subject of the constituent correspondence,” Mr. Myers wrote.

Mr. Myers was working under “volunteer” status at the time of the incident, he said, something he said was necessary as he waited for his re-hiring paperwork to be processed by the payroll department. This is something he later learned was against house rules.

On Monday, January 30, Mr. Myers said he was called into Mr. Santos’ office and asked about his background as a journalist, matters Mr. Myers said had already been discussed before he received a job offer.

Last year he was charged with wiretapping while working as a journalist in Ohio after releasing audio recordings of court testimony submitted by a court source. The charges were condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

According to CBS, the BBC’s US affiliate, Mr Myers said he had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was automatically dismissed under Ohio’s criminal procedure code after no charges were filed within 60 days.

Mr. Myers said his job offer in Mr. Santos’ office was revoked on February 1.

Last week, Mr Santos told Semafor he expects a progressive news website to release footage between the two men, saying: “He violated the trust we had in him.” On Friday, Talking Point’s memo released parts of a conversation , which the two had led.

Mr. Myers said he received no response to the letter from the House Ethics Committee and Capitol Police told him a report would be ready Monday, CBS reported.

“Hopefully, these matters will be adequately addressed by the police/ethics committee in a timely manner,” Mr. Myers said.

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