Santos blames ’embellished resume’ on local republic as questioning continues

from: Julia Shapero, The Hill

Published: February 11, 2023 / 08:28 PST

Updated: February 11, 2023 / 08:28 PST

(The Hill) – Rep. George Santos (RN.Y.) on Thursday blamed the local GOP for his “embellished resume,” as the newly minted lawmaker continues to face intense media scrutiny about his background.

“I never would have gotten the nomination from the Nassau County GOP if I hadn’t finished college,” Santos said in interview with Newsmax on Thursday, indicating he falsified his education to the county GOP to secure their support.

“To say I cheated, and it was a campaign of deceit and deception, is just not fair. It’s just the political spin the Nassau County GOP wants to put on this narrative,” he added.

In December, Santos admitted for the first time that he had lied about his education and work experience. Despite his campaign claims, Santos did not attend Baruch College or any other university and has never worked for Citigroup or Goldman Sachs.

After previously describing himself as a “proud American Jew” and claiming his grandparents fled persecution during World War II, Santos later clarified that he identifies as Catholic and simply means “Jewish.”

The New York Republican is also accused of lying about a number of other things, including that he attended a prestigious prep school in New York, that his mother died of 9/11 causes and that he knew several of the Pulse nightclub victims. shooting. His finances are also currently the subject of multiple investigations.

“I am a man; I made mistakes,” Santos said in an interview on Thursday. “I’ve come to terms with those mistakes and I’ve cleaned up those mistakes.”

“I want to be judged by my actions,” he added. “If you look at my record, I stand as one of the most conservative members of Congress right now, keeping my word that I will vote conservatively for the people of New York’s third congressional district.”

His comments come as lawmakers from both sides have called that he resigns.