As Congress begins its new term, the story that has truly crossed over is the saga of New York Representative George Santos.
A quick explainer—Santos has admitted to embellishing (and we use that word very loosely) his resume in his House race for the Empire State’s 3rd legislative district that covers northern Long Island and northeast Queens. Even before he was elected, there were questions about his personal and professional background.
Among the issues that have been uncovered since Nov. 8:
- The false claim his mother died on 9/11;
- The false claim he was Jewish;
- The use of numerous alias, such as Anthony Devolder;
- The false claims of working at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs; and
- The false claim about his college education
Most of the items we have cited he has admitted to lying about.
Then the story crossed over to our side of the Hudson after Richard Osthoff, a disabled veteran, said Santos in 2016 raised money for a life-saving surgery for his ailing dog Sapphire via a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Osthoff, who was homeless and living in a tent in Howell at the time, met Santos—going by the name of Anthony Devolder—through a veterinary technician who said a charity run by Devolder could help pay for Sapphire’s surgery. Osthoff said before he even spoke to or texted with Devolder, a GoFundMe page to raise money for Sapphire’s surgery. But Osthoff never received the money.
Despite all the evidence that Santos is a real life Talented Mr. Ripley, GOP leadership saw it fit to sit Santos on two House committees—including the Small Business Committee despite questions about payments to his own firm, the Devolder Organization. And it was over the pleas from the Nassau County Republican Party and members of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s own conference for Santos to step down.
To us, the story goes past Santos—it goes to accountability and what is right. And what is right is that GOP leadership should demand Santos resign or begin actions to remove him. Seemingly every damning revelation—including one this past weekend—has been confirmed by the man himself.
Politicians have low public ratings because of how they turn a blind eye to matters that in any other walk of life would lead to the firing of someone who allegedly committed numerous frauds. Republicans love to talk about how government should be run like a business—if that was true, George Santos would be on the unemployment line.
House Republicans in this term are seeking to portray themselves as the arbiters of good governance, with hearings on the actions of individuals such as Hunter Biden to government agencies such as the FBI having biases against conservatives and their movement they believe are of national importance.
If the GOP wants to be viewed as having any credibility at all in the eyes of Americans when it comes to their investigations, they should start with removing Rep. George Santos from office. That is accountability that all Americans can get behind. 
George Santos is a perfect living metaphor for the GOP. I say leave him there as an everyday reminder of the party dominated by Insurrectionist election deniers and liars.
That Santos (or whoever he is – I’m not sure he knows) was allowed to be sworn in and to sit on important committees only proves how far the GOP has fallen. I wonder if it can or will ever get up – or even if it should. How sad.
Spell check…grammar check…please.
There is no scene interpretation of the events of January 6 that even could be remotely considered an insurrection. It was pure political theater. In the January 6 commission was a show trial like the Soviet union used to have. If you support the Dems and progressives in their efforts over the January 6 DEMONSTRATION You are supporting Tierney and the weaponization of the justice system
I missed the opinion peice where you rebuked the democrats for the lying senator elizabeth warren for accepting accolades and opportunities based on her falsely claiming that she is Native American. Or have you ever done a shame peice on Mr Biden for the many lies that he has told embellishing his resume, or plagiarizing.
I agree with some of what you say about Santos. But shouldn’t it go both ways. If you don’t you can’t be found credible.
Why does the author not have a by line. Is this the opinion of the publication itself?
I don’t remember one article or “Opinion” written about our President and his many lies about his education or experience.
HERE YEE HEAR YEE; HARK!! HARK!! Me think’s the real issue with New York’ Rep. George Santos is this; See, he’ll be a thorn in the Sides of Hunter & that Biden Family, when their gainful Desert’s come out & put on the Table for’n everyone to see!! And his supporter’s may have a feast on the picking’s!! Santos, maybe that deciding vote to Impeach Biden & Sanctioning Hunter & Family from further profiteering in their conflicting interest venture’s!! OH-YES!! AND; ” What go’s around do come’s around “, so now is the time ‘THEY’ will have to Pay the Piper!!
Santos message to the American People is this “all politicians lie, cheat, steal, so why should i matter. I’m here to place myself and my party above the people, and then people like me get it all, nice income, sidebar bribes, and with tax-dollars benefits for life. When people think in linear concepts of one issues, guns, abortion, they prevent wholesomeness of discretion for the background of any hope of a more perfect union. The system is broken, and obviously corrupted.
As citizens we are denied even basic passive rights of said citizenship: 1. Health Care including Dental w/taxes paid already 2. Affordable Housing according to a set amount according to income 3. Meaningful work of actual need subsidized by government tax..
Instead we are subjected to private interest and making the advantaged class already beyond any economy even richer and more corrupted. The cult of the individual has subverted the collective sense of a Nation. Does it makes sense to be taxed in ones wages, and not have medicinal benefits, like an elected official would, and for life?
How does depending on having a job and relying on an employer to pay for a basic human right, Health Care, makes sense? How does market will bare rents for living space makes sense? God/Nature created the land, not the real estate moguls who leach life from us with unjust rents and fees..Rent should never exceed a certain amount of ones income.
Remember the more privatized our economy becomes the less freedoms and benefits of liberty we will have as a people. Government as intended, is good government, which we are in danger of losing because of private forces. A huge part of the problem is the Jeffersonian notion that “the government that governs best is the one that governs least.” While that is true as regards individual liberty, it is absolutely dangerous to think that way as regards the economy. So you see we have an upside-down republic; capitalism for the working class, socialism for the corporate powers. More tax subsidies go to fossil fuel interest, than education, health-care and defense. Money is not the problem, it’s how it is being used, the people who produce the value of money are not served by it’s value.