Representative-elect George Santos admits to lying about his biography, but says he still intends to serve in Congress

CNN
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GOP-elected Representative George Santos of New York admitted in two separate interviews on Monday to lying about parts of his background but claimed he did not commit any crimes and intended to to serve in Congress.

Santos has face scrutiny for the difference during his work and education, as well as other public statements he has made about his biography. In interviews with WABC and the New York Post – the first time Santos spoke publicly about the controversy – he admitted that he had fabricated some facts.

“I’m not a criminal. In an interview with John Catsimatidis, WABC radio host, not here, not abroad, in any jurisdiction around the world.

“To be detailed and gritty, I am not a scammer. I am not a criminal who deceived the whole country and made up this fictional character to run for Congress. I had about a long time. I mean, a lot of people know me. They know who I am. They did business deals with me,” he added.

“I’m not going to make excuses for this, but a lot of people overstate their resume, or screw it up a bit. … I’m not saying I’m not guilty of that,” he said.

Santos also admitted that he had never worked directly for financial firms Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as he had previously suggested, but claimed that he had worked for them through his firm. I said New York Post Office it was a “poor choice of words” to say he worked for them.

He also told the Post that he did not graduate from any college or university, despite claiming that he holds degrees from Baruch College and New York University.

The reporter who broke the inconsistency in the resume of GOP-elected Congressman Santos says much remains to be discovered

“I did not graduate from any higher education institution. I feel ashamed and sorry for embellishing my resume,” he told the Post, adding that he admits it and that “we’ve done stupid things in the past.” life.”

He told WABC, “I wanted to make sure that if I let anyone down with the further makeover, I apologise.”

The first New York Times disclosure last week that Santos’ biography appears to be partially fictitious. CNN confirmed details of that report, including his college and employment history.

CNN’s KFile also reported Last week, Santos’ claim that his grandparents “survived the Holocaust” as Ukrainian Jewish refugees from Belgium had their surnames changed contradicts sources including genealogical trees issued by the sites. General genealogy web, profiles of Jewish refugees and interviews with numerous genealogists. An attorney for Santos declined to comment to CNN.

“I never claimed to be Jewish,” Santos told the Post. “I am a Catholic. Because I knew my maternal family was of Jewish origin, I said I was ‘Jew’.

Santos said he was “very proud” of his “Jewish heritage” at the end of November 2022 appear with the Jewish News Foundation.

CNN reached out to the GOP House leadership and the Republican National Congressional Committee after Santos was admitted. House GOP leadership has been silent amid last week’s revelations. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy would not respond to CNN’s questions on Thursday when asked if he was concerned about apparent misinformation.

Santos defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman in a newly drawn district that included parts of Queens and several nearby Long Island suburbs, transferring control to Republicans, who dominated the New York suburbs en route to winning a House majority.

This is Santos’ second run for office – he lost to Democratic Representative Tom Suozzi in 2020 – and most of the criticism he has faced during the recent campaign has focused on his participation in the election. Former President Donald Trump’s rally in Washington on January 6, 2021, and a video in which he claims to have written a “beautiful check” to help alleged rioters pay their legal fees.

This story has been updated with additional context.