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Feds probe Rep.-elect George Santos as he prepares to be sworn into office: report
By
Clayton Guse
and
Jessica Gould
Published Dec 29, 2022
Modified Dec 29, 2022
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Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday
By
Clayton Guse
and
Jessica Gould
Published Dec 29, 2022
Modified Dec 29, 2022
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Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into Republican Rep.-elect George Santos, whose purported resume included a laundry list of lies, according to a report from CBS News.
News of the investigation emerged after the Nassau County district attorney’s office announced on Wednesday that it is pursuing a separate probe of Santos. The federal investigation is led by prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York and is examining Santos’ murky campaign finances, according to CBS.
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn declined to comment on Wednesday evening. A representative for the Santos campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A report published by The New York Times last week called into question the source of a loan of more than $700,000 Santos gave to his own campaign. The report also found the Congressman-elect lied about working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and graduating from Baruch College. Santos confirmed he'd lied during an interview with The New York Post on Monday.
He also said he misled voters about his religion when he said his mother was Jewish and his grandparents fled the Nazis during World War II. He admitted to the Post he embellished that piece of his background, stating he "never claimed to be Jewish," only "Jew-ish."
Santos won the race for New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November, defeating Democrat Robert Zimmerman with 52% of the vote. The district contains Long Island’s North Shore and a portion of northeastern Queens.
He’s scheduled to be sworn into Congress on Jan. 3.
A chorus of Democratic elected officials and community leaders from Long Island held a rally in Mineola on Thursday, demanding Santos step down before taking office.
Rabbi Deborah Bravo, from Woodbury, said she was "appalled" by Santos' description of his Jewish heritage.
"We deserve better, we demand better," said Bravo. "There is no such thing as being Jew-ish."
Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-Long Island) during the rally likened Santos' lies to a Ponzi scheme.
"We don't want to be represented by a clown," said Lavine. "We, the citizens of the 3rd Congressional District, are simply left holding the bag... being the laughingstock."
Tagged
Congress
George Santos
new york state
Politics
Clayton Guse
Clayton is the editor of the Transit and Infrastructure desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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