Mike Lawler, a Republican who recently won a race to represent a New York district north of New York City in the U.S. House, is joining those demanding accountability over the evidently numerous lies told by George Santos.
Santos is a Republican who prevailed in a Congressional race this year in New York’s Long Island, and in recent days reports have outlined how evidence points to him lying about key elements of his personal, business, and educational backgrounds. Some of the apparent deception is just odd, like his contention maternal grandparents of his survived the Holocaust and description of himself as a Jew — although there’s no reported evidence supporting the idea these forebears of his were even born in Europe. Some are also concerned about the origin of hundreds of thousands of dollars he loaned his campaign during this year’s elections. He alleged on financial disclosure forms with the House he was making a $750,000 salary from a financial services company he ostensibly led, but he didn’t include any clients.
Later reporting showed four clients — all of which were connected to individuals who also donated to his campaign. It’s unclear that such is the explanation, but providing funds to the company before later usage by his campaign to get around rules for donations to federal candidates is one troubling possibility here. Andrew Intrater, a cousin to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, even donated tens of thousands of dollars to a political action committee led by Santos’s sister. Was he getting corrupted funds?
“George Santos owes the people of his district the complete and total truth about his personal and professional background, and a sincere apology for his behavior,” Lawler said on Twitter this Wednesday. “Attempts to blame others or minimize his actions are only making things worse and a complete distraction from the task at hand. With multiple federal, state, and local investigations seemingly underway, Mr. Santos should cooperate fully, if he is to regain the trust of his constituents and colleagues.” Nick LaLota, another GOP’er who recently won a House race in the New York City area, also recently suggested a law enforcement response “if necessary.” Reporting from The New York Times subsequently outlined an investigation kickstarted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York with a reported focus on his finances. The Nassau County district attorney, a GOP official whose jurisdiction includes portions of Long Island, also recently announced an investigation.
My statement on George Santos’ conduct and the pending investigations: pic.twitter.com/jPUJd0tuH6
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) December 28, 2022
