As a native New Yorker who grew up in a public housing development across the street from Donald Trump’s golden golf course, I know what it’s like to have the neighborhood you love hijacked by a man who is deceitful to the core.
Now, as I begin my second term in Congress representing the good people of the Bronx, I find myself in an institution I love hijacked by yet another liar, cheat, and con man.
By his own admission, Santos rose to elected office by lying to voters about nearly every facet of his personal and professional life.
Representative George Santos, of New York’s 3rd Congressional District, was widely celebrated by the Republicans for flipping a Democratic seat in the last midterm elections. But how do we know now? of intrepid investigative reporting, his candidacy was a fraud, based on a massive web of deception. By his own admission, Santos ascended to elected office by lying to voters about almost every facet of his personal and professional life, including his family heritage, education, professional experience, business dealings, philanthropic endeavors and campaign finances.
Under normal circumstances, the depth and breadth of his deceit would embarrass one into resigning from public office. But these are not normal times, and Santos is shameless not only in lying but in lying about his lie. In a radio program titled «War Room,» Santos assured Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, that he has led an «honest life» and has never been charged with any crime. Never mind all the lies that Santos has told and the multiple criminal investigations accusing him of wrongdoing.
It’s amazing how anyone who has methodically misled the public to this extent can be trusted to perform the duties of their office in Congress in good faith. All Americans should be concerned about the risk of Santos having access to classified information and what he might do with it. This man’s presence in Congress is a danger to our democracy and national security, an embarrassment to this institution, and a major distraction from pressing issues that are far more worthy of our time, energy, and attention. It is time for Santos to recognize that he cannot serve the public he has let down. His ability to govern has been undermined by a total collapse of credibility.
Unfortunately for the American people, surprisingly few members of Santos’ own party have found the courage to publicly denounce him and demand his overdue resignation. The modern Republican Party has been hijacked by arsonists bent on burning everything around them, including the Congressional Ethics Office. The right’s acceptance of Santos is a function of power politics rather than ethics: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy needs all the votes he can get, and he needs George Santos to stay in power . Simply put, the House Republican leadership is in no rush to drain the Santos swamp.
But as someone who takes my oath seriously, I am writing to say that the truth should matter. This cannot and should not be a partisan issue. There is a difference between good and evil. And the American people deserve to be represented by someone of integrity. Someone who is honest about who they are, where they come from, and what they stand for. As elected officials, we cannot ask our constituents to abide by rules that we ourselves will not follow as a legislative body. And those in power who deliberately violate these basic principles must be held accountable to the fullest extent possible.
As various law enforcement agencies legitimately continue their investigations into Santos, I am acting on two separate fronts.
That is why, while various law enforcement agencies legitimately continue their investigations into Santos, I am acting on two separate fronts.
First, last week, I joined my colleague and friend, Representative Dan Goldman, of New York’s 10th Congressional District, to present a official complaint against Santos with the House Ethics Committee, requesting an investigation into possible violations of both the House ethics law and campaign finance. Goldman and I also introduced the Stop Another Untruthful Office Seeker Act, or SANTOS, which is intended to require candidates for federal office to tell the truth under oath about their education, military service, and employment history. If it becomes law, a fraud like Santos could be fined or jailed for lying to the public about his qualifications.
As a country and as a legislative body, I wish we weren’t in this moment right now. I wish this type of legislation was not necessary. But I sincerely hope that even in a highly divided Congress, there will be bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting George Santos and demanding answers. to lingering questions around both his campaign and his personal finances. He is a master manipulator and liar whose presence among us is beneath the dignity of the positions we are privileged to hold and the people we are here to serve. It would be irresponsible and dangerous of us not to try to discover what Santos seems to know very little about: the truth.
