It was much more plausible that the GOP sat on it given expectations of potentially flipping a seat.
We also know the Dems uncovered some of this information as well as local media and mentioned it- stuff like the nonexistent charity- but nothing like the web of lies that we have seen since.
There is a part of me that still has doubts that he would have lost the race if the GOP went public with the information they had. I mean the known information about George Santos was already pretty bad even before we discovered he's the Talented Mr. Ripley.
I'm glad to see local Republicans at least calling on him to resign even if Congressional Republicans don't have the spine to do so. I'm guessing eventually this will get to the point of being too much of a liability for the Party, but I wouldn't put it past McCarthy to wait till Santos is convicted.