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Who is George Santos and why is he in trouble? Who is George Santos and why is he in trouble?
(6 months later)
George Santos has admitted to several "embellishments" of his CVGeorge Santos has admitted to several "embellishments" of his CV
US congressman George Santos, who ran for office on an embellished biography, has been charged with a wide range of felonies including fraud. Embattled US Congressman George Santos, who ran for office on an embellished biography, is facing possible expulsion from the House of Representatives after less than a year in office.
The 34-year-old lawmaker, who has admitted to being a "terrible liar", has been dogged by allegations of falsehoods and fraud throughout his brief career on Capitol Hill. The 35-year-old lawmaker is facing dozens of federal charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States.
A non-existent real estate portfolio, fraudulent claims of college degrees and confusion over whether he's Jewish - or merely "Jew-ish" - are just some of the controversies the New York Republican faced before he was even sworn in to office. He even reportedly claimed to donors that he helped produce the infamous Spider-Man musical on Broadway - he didn't. An admitted "terrible liar", Mr Santos has been dogged by allegations of falsehoods and fraud throughout his brief career on Capitol Hill.
Prior to winning his race in last November's midterm elections, Mr Santos billed himself as "the full embodiment of the American dream": an openly gay child of Brazilian immigrants who rose to the upper echelons of Wall Street before entering the world of politics. A non-existent real estate portfolio, fraudulent claims of college degrees and confusion over whether he's Jewish - or merely "Jew-ish" - were just some of the controversies the New York Republican faced before he was even sworn into office. He even reportedly claimed to donors that he helped produce the infamous Spider-Man musical on Broadway - he didn't.
During his campaign, Mr Santos billed himself as "the full embodiment of the American dream": an openly gay child of Brazilian immigrants who rose to the upper echelons of Wall Street before entering the world of politics.
But his victory lap was short-lived.But his victory lap was short-lived.
Mr Santos' narrative of his life has since fallen into tatters, with the lawmaker admitting large portions of his story were entirely made up. But he is refusing to resign after being charged in a 13-count indictment in New York with wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. Mr Santos' narrative of his life quickly fell into tatters, with the lawmaker admitting large portions of his story were entirely made up.
Here's what we know.Here's what we know.
Who is George Santos? What has Santos said about his past?
According to a biography published online by his campaign - which has since been rewritten - Mr Santos is a first-generation American born in the New York City borough of Queens. His grandparents, the website noted, "fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII" before settling in Brazil. His Brazilian-born parents eventually immigrated to the US "in search of the American dream". A relative newcomer to US politics, Mr Santos was lauded as the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in the House of Representatives as a non-incumbent with his victory last year.
Mr Santos claimed to have been educated at Baruch-college in New York City before becoming a "seasoned Wall Street financier and investor" with experience working at prestigious firms including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. According to a biography published online by his campaign - which was later rewritten - Mr Santos is a first-generation American born in the New York City borough of Queens. His grandparents, the website noted, "fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII" before settling in Brazil. His Brazilian-born parents eventually immigrated to the US "in search of the American dream".
He has also claimed that he owned 13 properties - which "he'd worked hard for" - and that his mother was "in her office in the south tower" of the World Trade Center on 11 September. As recently as October, his campaign's website claimed that she survived the attack, only to die several years later. Mr Santos claimed to have been educated at Baruch College in New York City before becoming a "seasoned Wall Street financier and investor" with experience working at prestigious firms including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
A relative newcomer to US politics, Mr Santos was lauded as the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in the House of Representatives as a non-incumbent with his victory in November. He also claimed that he owned 13 properties - which "he'd worked hard for" - and that his mother was "in her office in the south tower" of the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. His campaign's website said that she survived the attack, only to die several years later.
US congressman charged with fraud, money laundering George Santos pleads not guilty to new charges
Why did Santos embellish his life?Why did Santos embellish his life?
The New York Times published a series of stories calling into question large portions of his CV, including his education and his work experience and even his claims to be a college volleyball star.The New York Times published a series of stories calling into question large portions of his CV, including his education and his work experience and even his claims to be a college volleyball star.
Other news outlets have since found no evidence that his grandparents fled anti-Semitism in Europe or that he is Jewish, despite earlier boasts of being a "proud American Jew". Other news outlets also found no evidence that his grandparents fled antisemitism in Europe or that he is Jewish, despite earlier boasts of being a "proud American Jew".
Since the initial reports, Mr Santos has admitted that he embellished his background. He never graduated from any university or worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Rather than owning property across New York, he lives with his sister in Long Island. After the initial reports, Mr Santos admitted that he embellished his background. He never graduated from any university or worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, nor did he own property across New York.
It was also revealed his mother died in 2016. It was also revealed his mother, who died in 2016, was likely not in the US on 9/11.
He also acknowledged that he misrepresented his faith, telling the New York Post that he's Catholic and that he said he was "Jew-ish" after learning that his maternal family had a Jewish background.He also acknowledged that he misrepresented his faith, telling the New York Post that he's Catholic and that he said he was "Jew-ish" after learning that his maternal family had a Jewish background.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Santos said he fabricated his biography and life story to gain acceptance from voters in New York's third district.In an interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Santos said he fabricated his biography and life story to gain acceptance from voters in New York's third district.
"I've been a terrible liar on those subjects and what I'm trying to convey to the American people is I made mistakes in allowing the pressures of what I thought needed to be done [to get elected]," he said."I've been a terrible liar on those subjects and what I'm trying to convey to the American people is I made mistakes in allowing the pressures of what I thought needed to be done [to get elected]," he said.
By January, nearly 80% of his constituents wanted him to resign, according to a survey conducted by Newsday and Siena College.
Santos' district includes parts of Queens and Long Island's Nassau County in New YorkSantos' district includes parts of Queens and Long Island's Nassau County in New York
Why is Brazil investigating Mr Santos? What criminal charges is Mr Santos facing?
The allegations against him, however, continued to grow. In May, Mr Santos was indicted on 13 criminal charges including fraud, theft of public funds, money laundering and making false statements to Congress.
Authorities in Brazil have confirmed that they plan to revive fraud charges against Mr Santos related to a 2008 stolen chequebook. According to court records, Mr Santos spent about $700 using a false name and stolen cheques in the city of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro. The case had been suspended because Brazilian authorities were unable to locate him. A second, superseding indictment filed in October saw him charged with 10 additional crimes - conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), two counts of falsifying records to the FEC, and access device fraud.
In a statement sent to the BBC's US partner CBS, the Brazilian prosecutor charged with the case said that Mr Santos' swearing-in as a congressman means that "he has a certain address where he can be summoned" and that the case can be continued. Prosecutors have alleged that Mr Santos laundered campaign funds to pay for his personal expenses, illegally claimed unemployment benefits and reported non-existent loans to his campaign to qualify for support from the Republican Party, among other offences.
Separately, on 29 December, the New York Times reported that Mr Santos' campaign paid $11,000 to a cleaning company for "apartment rental for staff", in addition to a slew of disbursements pegged at $199.99 - exactly one cent below the threshold at which receipts are required by federal law. The campaign expenditures also include $40,000 for air travel, a figure the newspaper noted "resembles the campaign filings of party leaders in Congress, as opposed to a newly elected congressman who is still introducing himself to local voters." He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has denied any wrongdoing.
What's next for his political career? A trial has been set for 9 September 2024.
Mr Santos - who was sworn into office on 3 January - vowed outside court after he was charged to run for re-election next year. Will he be removed from Congress?
Since taking office, Mr Santos has sparred with drag queens on Twitter, co-sponsored a bill to make the AR-15 the "national gun of the United States" and was the deciding vote on the Republican bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling.Since taking office, Mr Santos has sparred with drag queens on Twitter, co-sponsored a bill to make the AR-15 the "national gun of the United States" and was the deciding vote on the Republican bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
But he continued to be plagued by scandal. In February, Derek Meyers, a former staffer, accused the congressman of sexual harassment and said he had filed a police report and sent a letter sent to the Congressional Ethics Committee requesting an investigation. Santos told CNN he "100%" denied the claims. And, while Mr Santos has vowed to run for re-election next year, his political future is now in doubt.
In the wake of his arrest and indictment, Mr Santos has faced renewed calls to step aside including from fellow New York lawmakers. In late October, fellow New York Republicans formally demanded his expulsion from Congress.
"Sooner or later, whether he chooses to or not, both the truth and justice will be delivered to him," Marc Molinaro, a Republican who represents parts of upstate New York, told reporters. If two-thirds of representatives vote to do so, Mr Santos will be expelled from the House.
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was more circumspect, saying: "I think in America, you're innocent till proven guilty." It is unclear if that will happen. Republicans hold an extremely narrow majority in the House, meaning that many lawmakers may be reluctant to lose a Republican vote on the floor.
Only five members of the House of Representatives have ever been expelled from office in US history.
In both the most recent cases - in 1980 and 2002 - the representatives were expelled after being convicted of federal charges.
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