Prosecutors Open Criminal Investigation into Republican George Santos, For Supposedly Lying About His Past

Ryan SaavedraDecember 28, 2022

Local prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-NY, after he was charged with fabricating multiple claims about his history and later admitted to it.

Santos speaks with the New York Post Monday. admitted Santos admitted that he falsified the claim that his job was with Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. He also said that he did NOT graduate from college. Santos also admitted to embellishing details about his personal life, religion, and sexuality. These controversies, however, would not distract from his duties, he stated.

“I am not a criminal,” Santos claimed. “This will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”

Long Island’s Prosecutors announced Wednesday that they have opened an investigation into Santos after the scandal was first reported by The New York Times last Thursday.

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

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

A spokesperson for the Nassau County District Attorney’s office told the Associated Press that they were “looking into the matter.”

Letitia James, New York Attorney General (D) said last week that her office was looking into Santos’ claims.

Santos is also facing heat from inside the Republican Party for his allegedly false statements, with some saying that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives should investigate Santos if he is sworn into office.

Santos’ claimed Jewish heritage is another question mark. The Forward reported On Wednesday, the congressman was caught lying when he said his grandparents fled anti-Jewish persecution in World War II. Instead, a genealogical search showed his mother’s parents were born in Brazil instead of Ukraine or Belgium, as his campaign website asserted, according to The Forward.

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded to Santos’ claims in a statement saying that he was no longer welcome at their events.

“We are very disappointed in Congressman-elect Santos,” RJC “He deceived us and misrepresented his heritage. In public comments and to us personally he previously claimed to be Jewish. He has begun his tenure in Congress on a very wrong note. He will not be welcome at any future RJC event.”

.@RJC Statement on Congressman-Elect George Santos pic.twitter.com/cPc8O56XEl

— RJC (@RJC) December 27, 2022