CNN
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GOP Rep.-elect George Santos is facing growing condemnation from House Democrats, a few of whom have called on him to step aside, and even from some corners of the GOP, with at the least certainly one of his fellow incoming Republicans calling for him to face an ethics investigation. House GOP leadership, nevertheless, stays silent over revelations that the Recent York Republican lied about parts of his biography.
Santos has admitted to fabricating sections of his resume – including his past work experience and education – and has apologized but says he intends to serve in Congress.
Democratic Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Ted Lieu of California were amongst those calling on Santos – after the congressman-elect gave interviews acknowledging “embellishing” his resume – to resign and if he refuses, for the House to expel him.
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Reporter who broke the inconsistencies of GOP Rep.-elect Santos’ resume says there’s more to explore
Castro called for Santos to be investigated by authorities and argued if the Recent York Republican is allowed to serve in Congress after lying about his resume, “There shall be more who seek office up and down the ballot who will consider that they’ll completely fabricate credentials, personal features and accomplishments to win office.”
Democratic Rep.-elect Dan Goldman of Recent York, a former federal prosecutor, called Santos a “total fraud.” He criticized House Republicans, saying, “Congress also has an obligation to carry George Santos accountable, however it is unfortunately clear that we cannot trust House Republicans to initiate an investigation within the House Ethics Committee.”
A minimum of one incoming member of the GOP conference called for Santos to face scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee – an investigative panel that’s evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats but has limited options for doling out repercussions.
“As a Navy man who campaigned on restoring accountability and integrity to our government, I think a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and, if needed, law enforcement, is required,” GOP Rep.-elect Nick LaLota said in a press release that marks the sharpest rebuke yet from a Republican coming to Congress or currently serving.
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He lost to Santos. Hear him weigh in on his opponent’s lies
“Recent Yorkers deserve the reality and House Republicans deserve a chance to manipulate without this distraction,” LaLota added.
One other incoming GOP lawmaker from Recent York, Rep.-elect Anthony D’Esposito, condemned Santos’ false statements and called on him to “pursue a path of honesty,” although he stopped wanting calling for an investigation.
“Neighbors across Long Island are deeply hurt and rightly offended by the lies and misstatements made by Congressman-Elect George Santos,” he said in a press release. “While Santos has taken a required first step by ‘coming clean’ with respect to his education, work experience and other issues, he must proceed to pursue a path of honesty.”
It’s unlikely House Republican leadership will refuse to seat Santos, who’s scheduled to be sworn in with the remaining of the brand new members of Congress next Tuesday. The House has the ability under the Structure to expel any member with a two-thirds vote, but doing so is amazingly rare and only five lawmakers have been expelled in US history.
Besides making a referral to the House Ethics Committee, other potential options for coping with Santos include not giving him any committee assignments, which can be as much as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
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Evaluation: Why a decades-old federal law might be Santos’ undoing
Up to now, the California Republican has shown little appetite for punishing his own members for bad behavior – particularly on the subject of actions from before they were a member of Congress. McCarthy has also declined to weigh in when members are under investigation, arguing he’ll let the probes play out before determining how you can proceed.
“It will not deter me from being an efficient member of the USA Congress within the 118th session,” Santos told City & State in an interview posted Monday night.
McCarthy’s office and the National Republican Congressional Committee didn’t reply to CNN’s request for comment Monday evening.
Republican condemnation has, nevertheless, come from outside Congress.
Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph G. Cairo, Jr., said Tuesday that Santos “has broken the general public trust” and “has numerous work to do to regain the trust of voters.”
“I’m deeply disenchanted in Mr. Santos, and I expected greater than only a blanket apology,” Cairo said in a press release. “The damage that his lies have caused to many individuals, especially those that have been impacted by the Holocaust, are profound.”
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Records contradict Santos’ claim grandparents fled Holocaust
CNN’s KFile reported that claims by Santos that his grandparents “survived the Holocaust” as Ukrainian Jewish refugees from Belgium who modified their surname are contradicted by sources including family trees compiled by genealogy web sites, records on Jewish refugees and interviews with multiple genealogists.
“I never claimed to be Jewish,” Santos told the Recent York Post on Monday. “I’m Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I used to be ‘Jew-ish.’”
But Santos described himself as a “proud American Jew” in a document shared with Jewish groups through the campaign, which was first reported by the Forward and confirmed by CNN.
When asked about that statement on Tuesday night by former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who was guest hosting Fox’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Santos said, “My heritage is Jewish. I’ve all the time identified as Jewish. I used to be raised a practicing Catholic.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition on Tuesday said the incoming congressman had “misrepresented his heritage” and “won’t be welcome at any future RJC event.”
“We’re very disenchanted in Congressman-elect Santos,” RJC CEO Matt Brooks said in a press release. “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 really unsuitable note.”
Santos admitted Monday he didn’t graduate from any college or university, despite previously claiming he had degrees from Baruch College and Recent York University.
He also admitted that he never worked directly for the financial firms Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as he has previously suggested, but claimed that he did do work for them through his company, telling the Recent York Post it was a “poor alternative of words” to say he worked for them.
The Recent York Times first revealed last week that Santos’ biography gave the impression to be partly fictional. CNN confirmed details of that reporting, including about his college education and employment history.