New York Republican Representative George Santos was mocked after he admitted he is a "terrible liar" during an interview with Piers Morgan. The freshman Congressman also said he regretted lying about his life.
Santos has been mired in scandal since New York Times reporters unearthed multiple lies he'd told about his life story. He now faces ethics investigations amid allegations he violated campaign finance law.
He also faces a reopened fraud investigation in Brazil, where he used to reside.
You can hear what Santos said in the video below.
\u201c"I can't stand it."\n\nGeorge Santos tells Piers Morgan he's found losing his anonymity "uncomfortable" and he wouldn't have run for office if he knew what would transpire.\n\n@piersmorgan | @Santos4Congress | @TalkTV | #PMU\u201d— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@Piers Morgan Uncensored) 1676924072
Although Santos admitted to "embellishing" his résumé and questions remain about his education, work history and even his source of income, he has not heeded calls to step down from Congress, instead assuring GOP officials he will not run in 2024.
And even though he's in a hole he dug himself, Santos appeared to want viewers to feel sorry for him when he said he did not enjoy the attention his lies have garnered around the world and would never have run for office if he'd known he'd generate so much controversy.
Santos said:
"It's uncomfortable... Just last night, my husband and I went out to the movies, and as I was walking, from getting the tickets to getting to the concessions stand, to get to the theatre… ‘That’s George Santos, that’s George Santos’, the whispers all across the movie theatre. It’s strange."
"I can't stand it. A lot of people think I love it. I just can’t stand it."
"It’s something I’m going to have to learn how to deal with.”
Santos answered Morgan's questions about a slew of lies he's told, including about his education.
Santos admitted he "did not attain a college education" and called it "one of [his] biggest regrets in life." He nonetheless insisted he did not lie because he was interested in "tricking" people but because doing so was "about getting accepted by the (Republican) Party.”
Morgan, however, did not let Santos off easily—particularly after questioning why Santos lied about his mother being in the World Trade Center during the terror attacks of September 11, 2001—and said he struggles to believe anything Santos says.
\u201cGeorge Santos continues to claim his mother was working at the World Trade Center on 9/11, Piers Morgan nails him. (Video: Piers Morgan Uncensored)\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1676941430
Morgan said:
“The problem you have, congressman, seems to me is that you admit to certain big lies, and then you deny other big lies, and the problem people have is they don’t know when you’re lying and when you’re telling the truth."
“I’m not even sure now because how can I be?”
Santos acknowledged "that's a position [he's] put himself in" and said he believes he can fix his credibility issues:
“My credibility is what I’m gonna have a hard time and a long road to recover, and I stand clear and I stand certain that I’ll be able to do that.”
Many mocked Santos for attempting to generate sympathy for himself.
\u201cDoes this mean he's bad at lying or he's a terrible person who is a liar? Never know with this dude--George Santos admits he's a 'terrible liar' in Piers Morgan sit-down https://t.co/yExC4dj2LA via @nypost\u201d— Charles Gasparino (@Charles Gasparino) 1676926978
\u201cOne of the few times - if any - we can say that George Santos is actually telling the truth. https://t.co/z5THoHzmaQ\u201d— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi) 1677015780
\u201cI heard that George Santos called himself a terrible liar. At first I wondered if he meant that he is bad at it or that he does it frequently and then I decided it was both.\u201d— Henry M. Rosenberg (@Henry M. Rosenberg) 1677027578
\u201cHe's just a sick man. Pathological liar. And people voted for him. Unbelievable. \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2640\ufe0f I suggest we ALL get very involved in our elections, and dig deep to find out what these people are about. #resignnowGeorge\n\nhttps://t.co/1N5O7MY6GF\u201d— adchick22 (@adchick22) 1677001831
\u201c\u201cI\u2019ve been a terrible liar. But it wasn\u2019t about tricking the people. This was about getting accepted by the party.\u201d\n\nThere is a reason why George Santos, Donald Trump, and so many other con artists have selected the GOP as the vehicle for their grift.\nhttps://t.co/fBdJtYGZVu\u201d— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes on Post and Mast*don) (@TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes on Post and Mast*don)) 1676933274
\u201cCome on, #GeorgeSantos - Just because you got away with it the first time doesn't make it right.\nhttps://t.co/zyoyJ0e6KW\n"In an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, the New York Republican admitted he 'got away' with the same lies when he ran for Congress in 2020."\u201d— lottie (@lottie) 1677037309
\u201cYet he still sits in Congress. Does no group have standing to force his removal through the courts? - George Santos admits: \u2018I\u2019ve been a terrible liar\u2019 https://t.co/uUom3M0iMg\u201d— Tim Doke (@Tim Doke) 1677024383
Despite his alleged discomfort with scandals of his own making, Santos appeared unrepentant earlier this month when he made headlines for remarks he made about Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney.
Romney told Santos "You don't belong here" during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, a comment which prompted Santos to question Romney's Mormon values.
Santos called Romney's remarks "reprehensible" while talking to reporters. Romney, for his part, told the press he is embarrassed by Santos' shamelessness and said Santos should be "staying quiet" especially since he is facing an ethics investigation.
@jimmyfallon/Instagram