The Picasso of Political Lies: George Santos

No one had heard of George Santos before the pandemic—and those who knew him never expected him to enter American politics. However, in 2023, Santos has fellow lawmakers and the American government on its heels.

Background

New York Congressman George Santos’ résumé seems rather impressive from afar:

He graduated from Baruch College in New York, where he was reportedly given a volleyball scholarship. He then entered the business world, working at major firms including Goldman Sachs and the Citi Group. By the time Santos started politics in 2020, he had been a producer on a Broadway musical, a Vogue model, and the owner of an animal rescue charity. In addition to these previous occupations, he also told the media that his grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust and that his mother lost her life in the 9/11 Attacks (Forbes & NYT)

Sounds qualified for Congress, right? Big mistake. Every part of Santos’ biography was fabricated, including his family heritage and history.

Who is the real “George Santos?” In 2022, Santos was elected to represent a small district in Long Island, New York, narrowly defeating the incumbent representative to secure his Congressional seat. His actual résumé is far from spectacular—he has been involved in multiple cases of theft and was apparently even a drag queen in Brazil. Some aspects of the New York Congressman’s actual origin story/background involve the deception of a disabled homeless veteran and the creation of a GoFundMe page. Santos allegedly raised $3,000 but stole the money, declining to pay for the dog’s surgery (Vox). Other parts of his history follow a similar theme of deception and unethical behavior, and he has been charged with 23 criminal charges since May (NYT). The criminal accusations against Santos have left Americans and fellow politicians in utter confusion: how did such an individual win a seat in Congress?

What Now?

Santos’ future in politics is uncertain. His own Republican party has started to alienate him, with leaders removing him from every House committee. Several Republicans have demanded Santos to resign, but he has informed the media that he intends to run for re-election in 2024. However, ongoing investigations into his criminal history and the falsification of his résumé have limited Santos’ ability in government. If charged, he faces the possibility of being removed from office. Meanwhile, Santos has also been subject to intense media focus. While news outlets have contributed to his infamy, he has also been a source of entertainment, being the subject of multiple sketches on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” or SNL, and a variety of US talk shows (NYT).

In the end, Santos’ journey to notoriety highlights the potential loopholes and weaknesses of the American political system. If a politician like Santos can paint lies without punishment, then the future of US politics and the integrity of democracy could be in great trouble.