Representative-elect George Santos, R-New York, speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Las Vegas.
John Locher/AP
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John Locher/AP
Representative-elect George Santos, R-New York, speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Las Vegas.
John Locher/AP
A leading New York Republican says accusations that GOP Congressman-elect George Santos (R-NY) faked much of his biography are “serious.”
“I believe that George Santos deserves an opportunity to address the claims detailed in the article,” said Joseph Cairo Jr., the influential chairman of Nassau County’s Republican committee.
He referred to a story in the New York Times that appears to show key details of Santos’ official campaign bio were fabricated.
“Every person deserves an opportunity to ‘clear’ his/her name in the face of accusations,” Cairo added, saying he looks forward to hearing Santos’ response.
In his official biography, Santos claims to have graduated from Baruch College with “a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance.”
That appears to be untrue.
In a statement sent to NPR, Baruch College said it had checked its records for “a George Santos, born on July 22, 1988, with a graduation year of 2010, and could not find a match.”
NPR left messages for Santos but has not yet heard back.
During his campaign, Santos frequently pointed to his business career and his success outside politics as an example of the American dream.
“I’m a private sector guy who was born and raised in abject poverty,” Santos said during an appearance on CBS Channel 2 in New York.
“Only in this country does somebody who comes from a basement apartment in Jackson Heights like I did, is able to rise to become a successful businessperson, to then run for United States Congress.”
The Times also reported that Santos appears to have fabricated key details of his business career.
Citigroup and Goldman Sachs told the newspaper they had no record of Santos working for their firms, as the candidate claimed in his bio.
In a statement to NPR, a Citi spokesperson said they were “unable to confirm Mr. Santos’ employment with Citi.”
Some journalists raised questions about Santos before the election.
In an editorial before the election, the North Shore Leader newspaper endorsed Santos’ Democratic opponent, Robert Zimmerman, and voiced skepticism about Santos’ credibility.
“[H]e’s most likely just a fabulist – a fake,” the newspaper said.
It is unclear how these accusations might affect Santos and his ability to take office.
His surprising win came as part of a Republican red wave in New York that helped give the GOP a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.
Santos has yet to address the controversy on his social media feeds but on Twitter he did say he plans to vote for Rep. Kevin McCarthy to serve as House Speaker.
“We have the opportunity of a lifetime to deliver real results for the American people. We MUST give the gavel to [McCarthy],” Santos wrote.
We have the opportunity of a lifetime to deliver real results for the American people. We MUST give the gavel to @kevinomccarthy to ensure we stop the disastrous policies the Dems have pushed for the last 2 years.
I encourage my colleagues to join me! Our country depends on it.
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) December 19, 2022
McCarthy, who is still struggling to secure enough votes to secure the Speakership, has not yet commented publicly on the controversy surrounding Santos’ biography.
This story is developing and will be updated.
