SANTA CLARITA (CNS) - A former Trump campaign aide who pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents filed paperwork today to run for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Katie Hill.
George Papadopoulos filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission and established a website, georgeforcongress.com.
“Announcement soon on my interest in Katie Hill's soon to be vacant seat in the 25th district!” Papadopoulos tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, who announced her candidacy on Monday, tweeted: “Wow! GeorgePapa19 is running in #CA25! If he pled guilty to lying to the FBI -- how do we know he'll tell us the truth? We deserve someone from our community serving as our voice - not realDonaldTrump's wannabe political hack! #CA25 belongs to #CA25.”
A tweet by Papadopoulos on Sunday where he wrote, “I'm smelling blood in the water now that Katie Hill has resigned. California's 25th congressional district is wide open for the taking, drew criticism from former California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring.
“I hope this tweet doesn't mean you're fantasizing about running for Congress,” Nehring tweeted. “`Felon' isn't a good look.”
There was no immediate response to a message sent to Papadopoulos seeking a response.
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to making false statements to FBI agents relating to contacts he had with agents of the Russian government while working for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. He was sentenced to 14 days in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and 200 hours of community service, and was released after 12 days.
Papadopoulos describes himself on his Linked in page as an oil, gas and policy consultant from the Greater Los Angeles area.
The Smith campaign announced Tuesday it had raised more than $100,000 after she announced her candidacy.
Hill, who took office in January, announced Sunday she would resign amid allegations of a relationship with a staff member and the online release of explicit photos.
Photo: Getty Images