Rep. Long Island’s George Santos Lies backs up his claim that he is “Jewish” – saying Sunday that he consulted a genealogist to prove his grandparents really escaped the Holocaust.
The 35-year-old Republican revealed during an interview on CNN that he has spent the last 10 months evaluating his DNA and working with genealogists to prove his claims about his heritage.
“That’s something I will … prove before I die,” Santos told CNN’s Manu Raju on “Inside Politics” in a segment that aired Sunday — after noting he had yet to obtain the documentation.
“Unfortunately Ukraine is in the middle of a terrible war and my grandfather is from Ukraine,” he said.
“I’m trying to get the last part of it,” he continued about his family’s evidence of fleeing the Holocaust. “Especially the part … where they go to Brazil and then forge documents.
“Once I have everything ready, I will happily allow the same company to be hired to submit the report to the press.”
Santos: Oh, it’s true. I spent the last ten months DNA, hiring genealogists – Raju: Is there documentation on this?
Santos: Unfortunately, Ukraine is at war and my grandfather is from Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Dm9t7l43Uy
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 5, 2023
Santos insists that he is Catholic and comes from a Jewish family, despite questions about that account and a lack of documentation to prove it.
“I never said I was Jewish,” he insisted. “I used to joke for years by saying ‘Jew.’ I was raised Roman Catholic…everyone thought it was funny.”
In the immediate aftermath of a narrow victory in New York’s competitive 3rd District last November, Santos was engulfed in controversy amid revelations that he fabricated much of his backstory.
George Santos insists he is not lying about his “Jewish” background.Getty Images
“Hell in the deepest way,” Santos replied on Sunday when asked how the past year was for him.
But Santos – who faces a 23-count indictment for allegedly embezzling and lying to Congress – added that he has no regrets about running for office.
Sitting across from Raju, Santos walks through his allegations and pleads not guilty.
New — Interview with George Santos.
We talk about his charges – His campaign treasurer accused him of engaging in a fraudulent fundraising scheme (he denies it)– Made false statements with the House (saying it was a “mistake”)– Allegedly took $24K in unemployment benefits pic.twitter.com/Ba6JYHmDwH
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 5, 2023
“That conversation hasn’t been done yet,” he said when asked about the plea deal.
Among the charges against him are allegations that he cooked the books to make his campaign finances appear larger than they should have been in order to qualify for a program to attract GOP resources to him.
“I have never, ever submitted or seen a single report,” Santos insisted. “As far as all the allegations go, remember how the campaign works. I am a candidate, candidates do not handle money.”
The congressman faces a 23-count indictment.REUTERS
Prosecutors have referred to emails and text messages they believe point to guilt. They also locked in a guilty plea from former Santos campaign treasurer Nancy Marks last month.
“I want to see them,” quipped Santos when pressed about the alleged communication. “It’s very easy to take things out of context.”
One thing he flatly denied was the allegation that he falsely claimed to have loaned his campaign around $500,000 — even though his bank account showed less than $8,000 at the time.
“I can guarantee you that I made a financial loan campaign that is on record,” he said. “I am very interested to know where they got that information. I will absolutely defend it.”
He also distanced himself from accusations of using campaign donor cash for personal expenses.
“When people say, Oh, I’m charged again, we’ll pay them back. It is based on reports to the best of my knowledge,” he said. “I can say that I don’t handle donations.”
Santos’ campaign fundraising slumped for the third quarter, turning negative while recording $123,000 more in debt than previously reported.
Members of the New York Republican delegation support efforts to oust Santos from the lower house.Getty Images
Last week, he survived a bid in Congress to oust him from the lower house, fought by five fellow New York Republicans.
“At that time, I understood the politics [it] it doesn’t matter the size of your audience about political wisdom,” Santos said, thinking it was a ploy by his colleagues to “save face locally at home.”
Supporters of the bid to oust him cite his lies to the public about attending college and other details about his biography.
“Insecurity, stupidity, I don’t know,” he replied when asked why he lied. “Look, I’m human we make mistakes. I have apologized and I will continue to apologize profusely for this matter with full regret.”
Santos believes he can still win re-election in 2024.Getty Images
The congressman also faces an investigation from the House Ethics Committee which is set to reveal its findings by Nov. 17.
Santos faces tough GOP competition in the primary and general election, but said he believes he can win, and that “no results are set.”
“No one chose me because I played volleyball or not. Nobody picked on me because I graduated college or not. People chose me because I said I would come here to fight the swamp,” he stressed.
Santos was inspired to run for office by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.JCRice
During the lively exchange, Santos revealed that he was inspired to run for office by progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“AOC is my inspiration. Most people don’t know that,” Santos reflected. “I always felt you had to be a Kennedy or a Bush or a Clinton to be in politics.”
“She is a rude girl. He is from where I am from,” he added. “He proved that everyone can do this. It doesn’t matter right or left.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
