Former New York Representative George Santos made a surprising announcement on Friday, revealing his decision to leave the Republican Party and continue his congressional comeback bid as an independent. Santos, who was expelled from the House last year and faces numerous federal charges, expressed his dissatisfaction with the GOP in a social media post.

In his statement, Santos criticized the Republican Party, stating that he could no longer associate himself with a party that he believed stood for nothing and fell for everything. He declared his intention to bring "Ultra MAGA/Trump supporting values" to the ballot in November as an Independent candidate.

Previously representing New York's 3rd Congressional District on Long Island, Santos recently declared his candidacy for the neighboring 1st District, challenging Republican Representative Nick LaLota. LaLota had introduced a resolution to expel Santos from the House last fall, tarnishing their relationship and setting the stage for a heated primary race.

Responding to Santos' bid, LaLota did not hold back, emphasizing his determination to hold the former congressman accountable. He labeled Santos a "pathological liar who stole an election" and stated his intention to defeat him in the primary.

Santos is currently facing 23 federal charges, including allegations related to fraud in Covid-19 unemployment benefits, campaign fund misuse, and falsifying information about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

To run as an independent candidate in the November election, Santos will need to file an independent nominating petition with the Suffolk County Board of Elections by May 28. The petition must contain signatures from at least 3,500 voters residing in New York's 1st District.

Santos' decision to leave the Republican Party and pursue an independent bid adds further intrigue to the upcoming congressional race. As the election season unfolds, voters in the 1st District will closely watch the developments surrounding Santos and LaLota, determining the future representation of their district.