One of the candidates for the seat of former Republican Representative George Santos (N.Y.) has now been convicted of offenses associated with the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
According to a statement released by the Justice Department on Wednesday, Philip Sean Grillo, a resident of Queens, New York, was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, obstruction of a legislative proceeding (both a felony and misdemeanor), and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol building.
Following his historic removal from Congress by vote last week, Santos concluded his 11-month term as a lawmaker and became the sixth individual to be removed from the House. Grillo is vying for his position.
Days after a report by the House Ethics Committee uncovered substantial evidence implicating Santos in grave federal offenses, he was expelled from Congress.
On Long Island, Grillo is one of the nineteen candidates who have declared their intentions to run. The date of the special election to succeed Santos was set for February 13, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) declared days after he resigned.
Speaker of Assembly District 24, Grillo, has not been found guilty as of yet.
Though he admitted to running for the congressional seat, Grillo stated during his trial that he was unaware that Congress convened inside the Capitol.
Over 1,230 individuals have faced charges of offenses associated with the breach of the Capitol since the onset of the insurrection. For assaulting or obstructing law enforcement, over 440 individuals have been charged.
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