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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| George Santos tells Piers Morgan: I've been a terrible liar | George Santos tells Piers Morgan: I've been a terrible liar |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Congressman George Santos has admitted to having been "a terrible liar" when confronted with his embellished resume in a new TV interview. | |
| The embattled Republican told TalkTV's Piers Morgan he had made mistakes under pressure but his lies were not about "tricking the people". | The embattled Republican told TalkTV's Piers Morgan he had made mistakes under pressure but his lies were not about "tricking the people". |
| Instead, he said, it was about "getting accepted by the party here locally". | Instead, he said, it was about "getting accepted by the party here locally". |
| Mr Santos has faced fierce controversy since his election in November. | Mr Santos has faced fierce controversy since his election in November. |
| He was initially lauded as the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in the House of Representatives as a non-incumbent when he won in New York's third district. | He was initially lauded as the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in the House of Representatives as a non-incumbent when he won in New York's third district. |
| But within weeks, the New York Times published a story that called into question large portions of his CV, including his education and work experience, triggering a wave of further reporting. | But within weeks, the New York Times published a story that called into question large portions of his CV, including his education and work experience, triggering a wave of further reporting. |
| He is alleged to have faced fraud charges in Brazil, presided over prolific campaign spending, lied about working for Goldman Sachs and about owning property - and even claimed to have produced the ill-fated Spider-Man musical on Broadway. | He is alleged to have faced fraud charges in Brazil, presided over prolific campaign spending, lied about working for Goldman Sachs and about owning property - and even claimed to have produced the ill-fated Spider-Man musical on Broadway. |
| Speaking to Piers Morgan on Monday, Mr Santos said one of his "biggest regrets in life" was lying about obtaining a college education. | Speaking to Piers Morgan on Monday, Mr Santos said one of his "biggest regrets in life" was lying about obtaining a college education. |
| Asked why he had chosen to do so, Mr Santos said: "Expectation on society, the pressure, couldn't afford it. | Asked why he had chosen to do so, Mr Santos said: "Expectation on society, the pressure, couldn't afford it. |
| "Decided I wanted to run for office, although I had built a very credible business career, but I just didn't have that part of my biography." | "Decided I wanted to run for office, although I had built a very credible business career, but I just didn't have that part of my biography." |
| "I just went with it, if you are going to make up a lie, are you thinking at all?" he added. | "I just went with it, if you are going to make up a lie, are you thinking at all?" he added. |
| "I've been a terrible liar..."Piers Morgan grills republican George Santos, the man who's been branded the biggest fibber in politics.Watch it on TalkTV at 8pm.@piersmorgan | @Santos4Congress | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/bNaIDJLlzG | "I've been a terrible liar..."Piers Morgan grills republican George Santos, the man who's been branded the biggest fibber in politics.Watch it on TalkTV at 8pm.@piersmorgan | @Santos4Congress | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/bNaIDJLlzG |
| Mr Santos pointed out that he had run for the same Congressional seat in 2020 "and I got away with it then". | Mr Santos pointed out that he had run for the same Congressional seat in 2020 "and I got away with it then". |
| He reiterated his claim that he had never said he was Jewish, and repeated what he described as a "party-favourite joke" by describing himself as "Jew-ish". | He reiterated his claim that he had never said he was Jewish, and repeated what he described as a "party-favourite joke" by describing himself as "Jew-ish". |
| Challenged over a claim that his mother was in the South Tower of the World Trade Centre in New York City on 9/11, Mr Santos said: "That's true." | Challenged over a claim that his mother was in the South Tower of the World Trade Centre in New York City on 9/11, Mr Santos said: "That's true." |
| "I won't debate my mother's life as she's passed in [2016] and it's quite insensitive to try to rehash my mother's legacy," he said. | "I won't debate my mother's life as she's passed in [2016] and it's quite insensitive to try to rehash my mother's legacy," he said. |
| He added: "She wasn't one to mislead me... I stay convinced that's the truth." | He added: "She wasn't one to mislead me... I stay convinced that's the truth." |
| The 34-year-old, who has faced calls from within his party to resign, was asked about the experience of the scrutiny he has come under. | The 34-year-old, who has faced calls from within his party to resign, was asked about the experience of the scrutiny he has come under. |
| "It's uncomfortable," he said. "I can't stand it and a lot of people think I love it, I just can't stand it... you need to learn how to deal with it and that's what I'm doing." | "It's uncomfortable," he said. "I can't stand it and a lot of people think I love it, I just can't stand it... you need to learn how to deal with it and that's what I'm doing." |
| Asked about an apology, Mr Santos said: "I have looked inside a camera and said sorry... If you can ask for forgiveness, I think that is the first step." | Asked about an apology, Mr Santos said: "I have looked inside a camera and said sorry... If you can ask for forgiveness, I think that is the first step." |
| On whether he would have wanted to run for office knowing the pressure that would follow, Mr Santos said simply: "Absolutely not." | On whether he would have wanted to run for office knowing the pressure that would follow, Mr Santos said simply: "Absolutely not." |
| Mr Santos, who is the subject of multiple Congressional investigations, is also facing an allegation of sexual misconduct from a former aide. | Mr Santos, who is the subject of multiple Congressional investigations, is also facing an allegation of sexual misconduct from a former aide. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| New York | New York |
| Piers Morgan | Piers Morgan |
| US Congress | US Congress |