A newly elected Republican congressman lied about his life story. Now he's facing real trouble

Long Island prosecutors have launched an investigation into U.S. Rep.-elect George Santos of New York, after revelations surfaced that the now-embattled Republican lied about his heritage, education and professional pedigree as he campaigned for office.

But despite intensifying doubt about his fitness to hold federal office, Santos has thus far shown no signs of stepping aside — even as he has publicly admitted to a long list of lies.

"The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning," said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, a Republican.

"The residents of Nassau County and other parts of the third district must have an honest and accountable representative in Congress," she said. "No one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it."

Santos's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street pedigree and a college degree, but he has yet to address other lingering questions — including the source of what appears to be a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands in back rent.

He is scheduled to be sworn in next Tuesday, when the U.S. House reconvenes. If he assumes office, he could face investigations by the House Committee on Ethics and the Justice Department.

The New York attorney general's office has already said it is looking into some of the issues that have come to light.

Republicans 'troubled'

Some fellow Republicans had called for Congress and law enforcement to launch inquiries. Fellow Long Island Republican, Rep.-elect Nick Lalota said he was troubled by the revelations.

"I believe a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and, if necessary, law enforcement, is required," Lalota said Tuesday.

Other Republicans castigated Santos for his dishonesty but stopped short of asking him to step aside.

"Congressman-Elect George Santos has broken the public trust by making serious misstatements regarding his background, experience and education, among other issues," said Joseph Cairo, chair of the Nassau County Republican Committee, which lies within the 3rd Congressional District.

Cairo said he "expected more than just a blanket apology," adding that "the damage that his lies have caused to many people, especially those who have been impacted by the Holocaust, are profound."

A litany of lies

Questions intensified after The New York Times examined the narrative Santos, 34, presented to voters during his successful campaign for a congressional district that straddles the north shore suburbs of Long Island and a sliver of Queens.

The Times uncovered records in Brazil that show Santos was the subject of a criminal investigation there in 2008 over allegations that he used stolen cheques to buy items at a clothing shop in the city of Niteroi. At the time, Santos would have been 19. The Times quoted local prosecutors as saying the case was dormant because Santos had never appeared in court.

Santos continued to deny that he was being sought by authorities in South America.

In an interview with the New York Post earlier this week, Santos apologized for his fabrications but downplayed them as "sins" over embellishing his resume, adding that "we do stupid things in life."

He admitted to lying about working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as well as having earned a degree in finance and economics from Baruch College in New York.

Beyond his resume, Santos invented a life story that has also come under question, including claims that his grandparents "fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII."

During his campaign, he referred to himself as "a proud American Jew." He backtracked on that claim, saying he never intended to claim Jewish heritage, which would have likely raised his appeal among his district's significant ranks of Jewish voters.

"I am Catholic," he told the Post. "Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was 'Jew-ish."'

In a statement Tuesday, the Republican Jewish Coalition repudiated Santos.

"He deceived us and misrepresented his heritage. In public comments and to us personally he previously claimed to be Jewish," the coalition said. "He will not be welcome at any future RJC event."

Santos lost his first race for Congress in 2020 but successfully ran again this year.

Red flags missed

In its opposition research on Santos, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised several red flags about the Republican's record — but also accepted some of his assertions, including his educational record, as fact. The 87-page dossier sought to tie him to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and his support for baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

The report also sought to depict him as a far-right candidate. But buried within its report, the DCCC had raised issues about his shaky financial standing and multiple evictions that left him thousands of dollars in debt.

Federal campaign records show that he loaned his campaign more than $700,000 US, but the source of that money has yet to be explained.

"George Santos is delusional if he thinks voters will trust him after he's been exposed for lie after lie and continues to withhold key information," DCCC spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre said.

While his Democratic opponent, Robert Zimmerman, also tried to raise Santos's misrepresentations during his losing campaign, it did not gain much traction.

Zimmerman had said that Santos was unfit for office and has called for him to step aside so a special election can be held.