:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(974x79:976x81)/george-santos-011323-452049162a1342588ecb9616171c1f26.jpg "Rep. George Santos (R-NY) Explains Fabrications and Falsities in CNN Interview")
Rep. George Santos (R-NY) sat down with CNN’s Manu Raju to discuss the fabrications, falsities, and deceptions he has been accused of. Santos, who faces a 23-count federal indictment, provided explanations for some of the allegations against him. He attributed his false claims to a combination of “insecurity” and “stupidity” during his run for office. Santos placed the blame for mishandling his finances on his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, who pleaded guilty to working with Santos to inflate his funds.
One of the most notable fabrications by Santos was his claim of Jewish heritage. He repeatedly stated during his 2022 campaign that he was a “Latino Jew,” but genealogy records later debunked this claim. Santos now asserts that he never claimed to be Jewish and that he had actually said he was “Jew-ish.” He mentioned hiring genealogists to prove his case, but cited difficulties caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Regarding the alleged $500,000 loan to his campaign, which federal prosecutors say Santos never made, he maintained that he provided the funds. Santos dismissed his treasurer’s plea deal, stating that people will say anything to save themselves.
The scandals surrounding Santos have caused turmoil among House Republicans, with a failed vote to expel him from the chamber. Santos acknowledged that this experience has given him a clearer understanding of politics but expressed his unwillingness to continuously defend his past mistakes.
