Santos Faces Calls To Resign Amid Questions Over 'Fiction' Resume

LONG ISLAND, NY — A day after an explosive report questioned if Long Island Rep.-Elect George Santos fabricated much of his resume and background, calls have mounted for the Republican — who flipped the 3rd Congressional District in October — to resign.

The outcry stemmed from a New York Times report in which Citigroup and Baruch College, among other names on Santos' resume, said they had no record of the 34-year-old, who campaigned as a successful Wall Street financier.

"His resume may be largely fiction," the Times said.

Protesters visited the politician's home in Whitestone, Queens, Tuesday, and politicians called for ethics committee investigations as the swirling questions over Santos' job history, educational history, company history and even home address couldn't immediately be verified and ricocheted through the media.

Long Island Legislator Josh Lafazan, who represents Nassau's District 18, was among those who visited Santos' address in Queens.

"Politicians have lied. No one is surprised. But the scale, the moral depravity, the sophistication of this web of lies is truly unprecedented. Not one allegation was refuted," he said.

Santos responded to the reports by retweeting a statement from his attorney, calling the accusations "defamatory" and the work of "enemies at the New York Times."

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— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/Santos4Con... 19, 2022

Other Long Island leaders called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate Santos. Among them was Democrat Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos.

"Santos' failure to answer any of the questions about these allegations demonstrates why he is unfit for public office and should resign. It demonstrates why there must be a House Ethics Committee, Federal Elections Commission, and U.S. Attorney investigation immediately," Zimmerman said in a statement.

In addition to Monday's report questioning Santos' educational and career history, more questions emerged late Monday over other claims. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency ran a piece looking at Santos' mother's obituary and other family details to see if they could find evidence of claimed Jewish ancestry. It found nothing conclusive.

The Times report also detailed Santos' criminal check fraud charges in Brazil, and looked at his financial disclosures that raised more questions. Santos reported a $750,000 salary and over $1 million worth of dividends from his firm, the Devolder Organization, which has no public websites or disclosed clients.

Nassau's GOP leaders said Santos should have time to refute the report, while national and state GOP figures have so far remained quiet.

Nassau Republican chairman Joseph Cairo told Newsday, "I believe that George Santos deserves an opportunity to address the claims detailed in the article."

The Times reported that Jay Jacobs, New York State Democratic Party chair, said that Santos should not take his seat until after an investigation.