Republican Rep. George Santos, who was elected as the US representative for New York’s 3rd Congressional District in 2021, has faced scrutiny and investigations due to false claims on his résumé. Despite winning the election, Santos has been under fire for embellishing his background, including claiming that his mother survived the 9/11 attacks and that his company lost employees in the Pulse nightclub shooting. These claims have been debunked, leading to investigations by the House Ethics Committee, the Federal Election Commission, and the Campaign Legal Center. A survey from Siena College revealed that 78% of Santos’s constituents believe he should resign.
In response to the controversy, concerned citizens formed a group called Concerned Citizens of NY-03 and have been campaigning for Santos’s removal from office. Some of them even traveled to Capitol Hill to demand his expulsion. Despite the ongoing investigations and public pressure, Santos has not shown any signs of resigning. In fact, he filed paperwork for reelection in 2024, indicating that he plans to continue serving as a representative.
Santos has admitted to certain falsehoods, such as his previous marriage to a woman despite claiming to be gay, and his initial claim to be Jewish, later clarifying that he is “Jew-ish.” However, he has called himself a “terrible liar” and has asked for forgiveness from the public. Despite this plea, most of Santos’s fellow Republicans have remained silent on the matter, with the exception of Senator Mitt Romney, who called for Santos’s resignation.
The controversy surrounding Santos continues to grow, with the latest being an investigation into a deal involving a 141-foot super yacht allegedly brokered by Santos. It is unclear whether any laws were broken in this transaction, but the FBI and other state and federal authorities are reportedly looking into the matter. Santos has dismissed the investigations as “desperate journalism” and has shown resilience in the face of criticism.
Comparisons have been drawn between Santos and Barbie, the iconic doll who has taken on over 200 jobs since her creation in 1959. Both Santos and Barbie have had multiple titles and careers throughout their lives. Barbie has even run her own campaigns in recent elections, leading some to speculate that she may run for president in 2024. In light of Santos’s many claimed accomplishments and controversies, a quiz has been created to test knowledge of who had a particular job: Santos, Barbie, or both.
In summary, Republican Rep. George Santos’s résumé has been marred by embellishments and false claims, leading to investigations and calls for his resignation. Despite the ongoing controversies, Santos has shown no intention of stepping down and has even filed paperwork for reelection in 2024. The comparisons between Santos and Barbie, who has also had numerous careers, highlight the peculiarities of Santos’s situation.
