Congressman-elect Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) is calling for an ethics investigation of Rep. -elect George Santos (R-N.Y) after he admitted to lying about his resume.
“As a Navy man who campaigned on restoring accountability and integrity to our government, I believe a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and, if necessary, law enforcement, is required,” LaLota said. “New Yorkers deserve the truth and House Republicans deserve an opportunity to govern without this distraction.”
Santos has faced mounting scrutiny after a New York Times investigation earlier this month found that much of his backstory does not add up.
Santos, 34, claimed he worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs though neither financial firms have proof of his employment. He also claimed to have graduated from Baruch College and New York University, earning degrees in finance and economics. Both institutions say they do not have any records to indicate that Santos was ever a student.
On Monday, he admitted to lying about his educational and professional background. He told the New York Post that he did not attend “any institution of higher learning” and “never worked directly” with Citigroup or Goldman Sachs.
Santos was also condemned by Rep.-elect Anthony D’Esposito, another incoming lawmaker from New York who flipped a Democratic district.
“While Santos has taken a required first step by ‘coming clean’ with respect to his education, work experience, and other issues, he must continue to pursue a path of honesty,” D’Esposito said in the statement. “I have long held that elected officials must operate in a transparent and truthful manner – it is time for Mr. Santos to embrace that same spirit of sincerity.”
D’Esposito stopped short of calling for an investigation of Santos’ conduct.
[Image by: David Becker for the Washington Post via Getty Images]
