Local prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into U.S. Rep-elect George Santos (R-NY) after he was accused of, and subsequently admitted to, fabricating numerous claims about his background.
In an interview with the New York Post Monday, Santos admitted that he fibbed about the claim that he worked for financial titans Goldman Sachs and Citigroup; he also admitted that he did not graduate from college. Furthermore, Santos admitted that he embellished some of the details of his personal life, his religion, and his sexuality. However, he said that these controversies would not detract from his duties.
“I am not a criminal,” Santos claimed. “This will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”
Prosecutors on Long Island announced Wednesday that they opened an investigation into Santos following the scandal, which was first reported on by The New York Times last week.
“The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly.
“The residents of Nassau County and other parts of the third district must have an honest and accountable representative in Congress,” she added. “No one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it.”
A spokesperson for the Nassau County District Attorney’s office told the Associated Press that they were “looking into the matter.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said last week that her office was looking into Santos’ claims.
Santos is also facing heat from inside the Republican Party for his allegedly false statements, with some saying that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives should investigate Santos if he is sworn into office.
Another recent question mark concerning Santos involves his claimed Jewish ancestry. The Forward reported on Wednesday that the congressman lied when he said that his grandparents fled anti-Jewish persecution during World War II. Instead, a genealogical search showed his mother’s parents were born in Brazil instead of Ukraine or Belgium, as his campaign website asserted, according to The Forward.
The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded to Santos’ claims in a statement saying that he was no longer welcome at their events.
“We are very disappointed in Congressman-elect Santos,” RJC said. “He deceived us and misrepresented his heritage. In public comments and to us personally he previously claimed to be Jewish. He has begun his tenure in Congress on a very wrong note. He will not be welcome at any future RJC event.”
.@RJC statement on Congressman-Elect George Santos pic.twitter.com/cPc8O56XEl
— RJC (@RJC) December 27, 2022