Congressman-elect George Santos admits lying about education, work experience, but vows to be sworn in - CBS New York

1 year ago 53

George Santos admits to lying astir his resume

George Santos admits to lying astir his resume 02:35

SYOSSET, N.Y. -- The calls are intensifying for Congressman-elect George Santos to measurement down aft helium admitted to lying connected his résumé.

The Long Island Republican turned the bluish territory red.

And successful the look of questions astir run fraud and deception, connected Tuesday day his run told CBS2 helium inactive has each volition of being sworn successful adjacent week.

Santos said he's atrocious helium "embellished" his résumé, but helium believes helium inactive deserves to service the voters of Long Island and northeast Queens who elected him.

Last week, the New York Times reported that the 34-year-old Republican falsely claimed helium graduated from Baruch College, that helium is the descendant of a Holocaust survivor, and that had worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

"If I was trying to defraud the radical similar everyone is saying, I could person listed bigger names," Santos said.

In a Fox News interrogation Tuesday night, helium said helium is "not a fraud" and "not fake."

"I made a mistake, and I deliberation humans are flawed and we each marque mistakes," helium said. "In bid to determination past this and determination guardant and beryllium an effectual subordinate of Congress, I person to look my mistakes."

But erstwhile the interviewer, erstwhile congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, asked Santos if helium had nary shame, helium rapidly tried to deflect.

"I tin accidental the aforesaid happening astir the Democrats and the party. Look astatine Joe Biden. Joe Biden's been lying to the American people," helium said.

Watch Tim McNicholas' report

Congressman-elect George Santos says he's "not a fraud" 02:33

Democrats connected Long Island -- and beyond -- are calling for Santos to measurement down.

"There is simply a precise existent anticipation that George Santos committed fiscal crimes. In 2020, helium reported an income of $55,000, yet 2 years aboriginal he's affluent capable to lend $700,000 to his campaign?" Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan said.

"George Santos is simply a pathological liar who defrauded the voters of New York state. He should beryllium held accountable," Rep. Ritchie Torres said. "I person occupation believing helium legitimately lent his run 94% of his salary. Where there's smoke, there's fire, and determination needs to beryllium an investigation."

Santos inactive has not addressed however precisely his wealthiness has skyrocketed successful the past respective years by "consulting," but did accidental it allowed him to springiness a ample magnitude of wealth to his legislature campaign.

In a connection Tuesday afternoon, a rep for Santos said, successful part, "As a millennial, George did what helium had to successful bid to evade smear campaigns enactment distant by elitist organizations similar the New York Times. Santos is wholeheartedly acceptable to assertion the decisive triumph helium earned successful Congress and beryllium the dependable of New York's 3rd District."

Joseph Cairo Jr., the seat of the Nassau County Republican Committee, expressed disappointment, including the Holocaust claim, but is lasting with Santos, saying, successful part, "I expected much than conscionable a broad apology. Residents privation him to present taxation alleviation and walk laws that volition marque our neighborhoods and federation safer. What's more, George Santos volition person to continually beryllium that helium has learned his lesson."

Long Islanders that spoke to CBS2 disagree.

"I deliberation radical similar him are a detriment to our society," said Tom Zamroz of Levittown.

"Resign. You're not qualified bash not instrumentality the seat," said Lisa Marolachakis-Kines of Glen Cove.

"It's ridiculous helium tin get distant with that. There's nary consequences for your actions anymore," added Jordan Sepulveda of Bethpage.

Exclusive Video: George Santos Tells-All [Political Personalities with Skye] by City & State on YouTube

CBS2 reached retired to Republican enactment successful the House, but did not instantly perceive back.

So what disciplinary enactment could Santos look by the House oregon instrumentality enforcement, and what does 1 of Long Island's astir almighty Republicans, erstwhile Rep. Peter King, person to say?

When asked if Santos should resign, King said by phone, "No, helium was elected and, again, it's a atrocious precedent to acceptable to resign. Then you'd person each predetermination to beryllium re-examined 'Was this accurate? Was that inaccurate?.'"

"Now, obviously, helium went beyond astir thing anyone has done before, but it's not a crime. You should beryllium sworn in, but aft that determination should beryllium an contiguous investigation," King added.

Bipartisan Facts First is calling connected Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to not let Congressman Santos to ballot successful the speaker's contention oregon clasp committee seats until the Ethics Committee investigates his background.

McCarthy has not responded to CBS2's requests for comment.

"One of the fewer reasons wherefore Kevin McCarthy and the Washington Republicans would not privation to instrumentality what would beryllium immoderate beauteous bold enactment and not letting Santos beryllium seated is due to the fact that they person specified a constrictive majority. At the aforesaid time, they are going to beryllium going aft a batch of Democrats and it could beryllium they would spot Santos arsenic idiosyncratic to propulsion nether the proverbial bus, truthful they could look little partisan," said Lawrence Levy, the enforcement dean of Hofstra University's National Center for Urban Studies.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has said she's looking into the situation, but governmental experts accidental it's a grey area.

"There are precise fewer rules astir what candidates tin and can't accidental during the people of an election," said Michael Thorning of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The Republican Jewish Coalition said, "We are precise disappointed successful Congressman-elect Santos. He deceived america and misrepresented his practice successful nationalist comments and to us, personally, helium antecedently claimed to beryllium Jewish. He has begun his tenure successful Congress connected a precise incorrect note. He volition not beryllium invited astatine immoderate aboriginal RJC event."

Santos tried to support what helium said connected Fox News.

"My practice is Jewish, I've ever identified arsenic Jewish. I was raised a practicing Catholic. I deliberation I've gone done this," helium said.

Another quality outlet, the Jewish American quality tract "The Forward," questioned Santos' assertion his grandparent survived the Holocaust. It said records look to amusement his grandparents were calved successful Brazil.

As for the assertion that helium worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, Santos tried to explicate that, too, claiming helium worked indirectly with the firms portion employed by different company.

"We tin statement my résumé and however I worked with firms specified Goldman and Citigroup each nighttime long," helium said.

"Is it debatable oregon is it conscionable false?" Gabbard asked.

"No, it's not mendacious astatine all. It's debatable," Santos said.

According to the New York Times, however, his website didn't accidental helium worked indirectly with Citigroup; it falsely said helium was an "associate plus manager" successful their existent property division.

CBS2's Tim McNicholas reached retired to Santos to petition an interview, and helium directed america to his nationalist relations team. We person not heard back.

Lisa Rozner