Freshman Rep. George Santos, the New York Republican who has had to apologize for blatantly lying about his experiences and background during last year’s election cycle, just made a major move that is likely to enrage his critics.

Santos “filed paperwork for a re-election bid on Tuesday, signaling the controversial Republican will fight for another term in office as he faces an ethics investigation and calls to resign from within his own party,” the Daily Wire reported.

He has filed for re-election with the Federal Election Commission by the deadline, and he has already raised more than $5,000. However, this does not necessarily indicate that he will run for office again in 2024, the report continued.

The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Santos earlier this month after he made numerous false statements about his past and allegedly engaged in unlawful activity during his 2022 campaign. Santos allegedly “failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office,” according to a statement from the House Ethics Committee chairman and ranking member.

Santos has confessed to lying to voters about his background, including where he attended college and his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He also claimed to have founded an animal charity and saved thousands of dogs and cats between 2013 and 2018, but there is no evidence of such a charity existing.

Bloomberg has reported that the Nassau County Republican Party, which represents the majority of Santos’ district, has vowed not to back his re-election campaign.

“Whether or not George Santos indicates he will run for reelection has no bearing on the position of the Nassau County Republican Committee,” said Nassau County Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo Jr. “He will not receive the Nassau GOP’s endorsement for reelection in 2024. If he decides to run, we will oppose and beat him. He has no place in public service and I again call on him to do the very first honorable thing in his Congressional career — resign!”

Last month after he hinted that he could step down if enough of his constituents asked him to do so, Santos appeared to backtrack, tweeting, “I’m not leaving, I’m not hiding and I am NOT backing down.”

Let me be very clear, I’m not leaving, I’m not hiding and I am NOT backing down.

I will continue to work for #NY03 and no amount of Twitter trolling will stop me.

I’m looking forward to getting what needs to be done, DONE!

— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) February 14, 2023