This Week, George Santos Arrived In D.C. No One Is More Agitated Than New York's Second Gay Congressman
Republican George Santos arrived in D.C. this week to much criticism after confessing he had lied about significant parts of his career and personal life while campaigning.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuJan 05, 20238.7K Shares628K Views
Republican George Santos arrived in D.C.this week to much criticism after confessing he had lied about significant parts of his career and personal lifewhile campaigning. While there are no signs of a warm greeting for Santos, Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York seems more incensed than anybody else.
“„The House Republican chaos has a silver lining. George Santos has not been sworn in.- Torres, Tweet
Since last month's claims of lying arose, Torres has taken at least three dozen potshots at Santos on social media.
Voters say they feel betrayed by incoming Rep. George Santos
First Day In Congress As An Outcast
George Santos, the Republican representative-elect of New York, spent his first day in Congress as an outcast, hounded by reporters whom he made an effort to avoid and ignored by members of his own party.
In the weeks after flipping a Democratic seat on Long Island on November, Mr. Santos was difficult to reach. He avoided calls and messages, hid out in Long Island and Queens, and only appeared briefly for awkward interviews with conservative sources. Mr. Santos, however, could not remain covert after last Tuesday.
Outside his new office in the Longworth Building, dozens of reporters waited for him to arrive, and they immediately began questioning him about whether or not he owed his constituents answers about the fictional persona he created to win his seat, and whether or not he had a response to the investigations that have resulted from those fabrications.
Mr. Santos, 34, went with two assistants at his side, wearing a bag and glancing at his phone as if he were an anxious college student lost on a strange campus. His office door opened as he walked out, but he quickly turned around and shut it behind him. When questioned, he gave no responses.
His arrival on Capitol Hill coincided with the 118th Congress's tumultuous first day, when Republicans were preoccupied with the intraparty drama of who would be speaker and a revolt on the far right transformed the House floor from a triumphant first day of the G.O.P. majority into a spectacle of dysfunction.
Members of Congress and staff were seen making jokes about whether the newbie from New York or Representative Kevin McCarthy of California was having a worse day.
Who Is Torres?
Torres is a representative for a portion of the Bronx, while Santos is a representative for a portion of Queens. They have all contributed to the advancement of the LGBTQ community in politics. Santos made historyin November by becoming the first openly homosexual non-incumbent Republican elected to Congress; Torres made history two years before by becoming the first openly gay Afro-Latinx member of Congress.
A former NBC Newsinterviewee, Torres grew up in the Bronx with his single mother in a cramped apartment in a public housing complex where there was mildew, leaks, lead, and uneven heating. Depression, drug addiction, and the loss of a close friend, he said, caused him to drop out of college.
Torres is now bringing his zeal for justice straight to Santos, whom he has accused of cheating the citizens he will soon represent.
“„He has lied systematically about nearly every aspect of his life — his family heritage, his educational background, his employment history and his ties to historical events like the Holocaust or the Pulse nightclub massacre. We have to send the message that if you defraud the voters, you’re going to be held accountable, you’re going to be even prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.- Torres
Who Is Santos?
According to Santos' campaign website, which has since been removed, Santos graduated from Baruch College with a bachelor's degree in economics and finance. However, the Times and NBCNew York verified with Baruch authorities that they were unable to locate attendance records for Santos.
Santos also said that he worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, but officials for both companies informed The Times that they had no record of his employment.
After tweeting on December 19 a letter from his attorney accusing the Times of "attempting to ruin his good reputation" with "defamatory charges," Santos subsequently revealed that he had neither graduated from Baruch nor worked for Goldman Sachs or Citigroup.
Last month, two law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News that federal prosecutors in New York had begun an inquiry against Santos. A representative for the U.S. attorney for Eastern New York previously refused to comment on the inquiry to NBC News, but two sources have verified that prosecutors are examining Santos' financial statements and whether campaign contributions he received violated campaign financing regulations.
Additionally, the New York attorney general's office said that it is "looking into a variety of problems" concerning Santos, but did not disclose whether an official inquiry has been initiated. Simultaneously, the Nassau County District Attorney's office acknowledged that an inquiry had been initiated into Santos.
Torres has advocated accountability measures for Santos and other legislators. Last Monday, he launched the Stop Another Non-Truthful Office Seeker Act, or "SANTOS" Act, which would force applicants to divulge their work, educational, and military histories under oath.
Thursday, Torres expressed confidence that the proposal would get "overwhelming" support from House Democrats.
Final Words
Once Santos is a sitting member of Congress, Democrats will likely file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission and present a resolution to remove him. Some Republicans are voicing out, but given their slim majority, it's doubtful that they will want to remove a party member.
“„This is troubling in so many ways. Certainly, he has lied repeatedly, he certainly has to consider resigning. He can try to politically ride it out, or he can take the toughest road I think for every lie that he has made, apologize to anyone and everyone.- Kevin Brady, Texas Rep.
There will be a gathering outside his Oyster Bay campaign headquarters when local lawmakers and people will call for his resignation.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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