Representative-elect George Santos, in the official photo of the US Congress website CONGRESO EEUU (US CONGRESS)
Republican George Santos, newly elected to the New York House of Representatives, has admitted to fabricating details of his education and work experience during the Nov. 8 midterm election campaign. Santos is one of four Republicans who caused an upset in New York, a traditionally Democratic state, and helped change hands in the House majority in favor of their party.
Santos admitted to the fakes in an interview with the New York Post tabloid on Monday, after the New York Times revealed that the congressman lied about his resume and didn’t have the college degree he claimed he had. The new congressman claimed during the campaign that he was a graduate of New York University and had worked at Wall Street financial giants like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He also said he has a family real estate portfolio of 13 properties; on Monday he admitted not owning any.
Nothing was true, and that is theoretically unforgivable in a country where Protestant Puritanism has left an indelible mark, but certainly in a politician’s career; Remember the impeachment of President Bill Clinton for lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. However, the party will keep him in its ranks and in the House seat, Republican sources said on Monday.
According to the portal The Hill, Santos admitted that he did not graduate from the aforementioned university, which is public, “nor from any higher educational institution”. In his statements to the Post, Santos also said he “never worked directly” with any of the Wall Street firms and promised that he would “be clearer about it” going forward, “attributing the confession or error.” “. a poor choice of words,” which his political opponents directly translate as lies. In another interview, he defended himself against the “embellishment” of his resume by saying that it made him not a criminal and that he had “done a lot of good in his career,” without specifying what kind of career he was referring to. Santos is 34 years old and is making his congressional debut.
Santos’ inventiveness was not just limited to enriching his CV, but also extended to facts about his family history that could not be proven theoretically, such as that his mother’s parents were Ukrainian Jews who fled the Holocaust and had taken refuge in Brazil. Civil records obtained by The New York Times show that her maternal grandparents were born in Brazil and had no Ukrainian and/or Jewish ancestry. The voice of the Jewish community is one of the most coveted by New York City politicians, both Democrats and Republicans.
“My sins are only to beautify my resume. I’m sorry,” the Republican told the New York Post, insisting the controversy will not prevent him from “doing well as a legislature.” “I will be effective. I’ll do well,” he said. However, the Democratic Party has already asked for his resignation on allegations of voter fraud and for an investigation into the financing of his campaign. “Republican Congressman-elect George Santos, who has admitted his outrageous lies, should resign. If he doesn’t, the Republican Party should call for a vote on his expulsion.” tweeted Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu. Neither one nor the other: the representative elected by Long Island (New York) will take the solemn oath as a congressman on January 3.
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