Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y) said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) comments to him before the start of Tuesday’s State of the Union “wasn’t very Mormon of him.”
“It’s not the first time in history that I’ve been told to shut up and go to the back of the room, especially by people who come from a privileged background,” Santos told reporters. “I’m never gonna shut up and go to the back of the room. I think it’s reprehensible the senator would say such a thing to me. It wasn’t very Mormon of him.”
Romney confronted Santos before Tuesday’s State of the Union, telling him he “ought to be embarrassed.” Santos responded by calling Romney an “asshole.”
Romney later told reporters that Santos should not have attended the event and referred to him as a “sick puppy.”
“I don’t know the exact words I said. He shouldn’t have been there. Look, he’s a sick puppy. He shouldn’t have been there,” Romney said, according to the Hill. “I don’t think he ought to be in Congress and he certainly shouldn’t be in the aisle trying to shake the hand of the president of the United States and dignitaries coming in. It’s an embarrassment.”
Santos fired back at Romney on Twitter writing: “You will NEVER be PRESIDENT!”
Santos is facing increased scrutiny after lying about his personal and professional background while running for Congress. He is currently being investigated by federal authorities over potential campaign finance violations and Nassau County prosecutors over lies during his campaign.
He has refused to step down amid bipartisan calls for his resignation.
