New York Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres called out New York Republican Representative-elect George Santos for claiming to have been sworn in on his official congressional website despite it being impossible.
The chamber was forced to adjourn Tuesday after former House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy lost three separate rounds of voting for Speaker of the House due to what The New York Times referred to as a "right-wing rebellion" designed to block him from the speakership.
Torres pointed out Santos—whose election on Long Island in November helped Republicans secure a slim majority in the House of Representatives—claimed to have been sworn in even though the House "has no Speaker, and no Congressman has been sworn in."
Torres described Santos' claim as his "first lie of the New Year."
\u201cGeorge Santos told his first lie of the New Year, falsely claiming to have been sworn in as a Congressman by the Speaker of the House on January 3rd. \n\nThe House has no Speaker, and no Congressman has been sworn in.\u201d— Ritchie Torres (@Ritchie Torres) 1672801663
The criticism from Torres is significant because last week Torres introduced the SANTOS Act to punish any members of Congress who lie under oath about their employment, military service or education.
Torres crafted the bill in response to the evolving scandal surrounding Santos, who is facing calls to resign after admitting to “embellishing” his résumé following an extensive investigation by The New York Times that exposed multiple lies he told about his life story.
The acronym SANTOS stands for Stop Another Non-Truthful Office Seeker, a stark rebuke of Santos as he's come under scrutiny.
\u201cBIG NEWS: I am introducing a bill to require candidates to disclose under oath their employment, educational, & military history so we can punish candidates who lie to voters about their qualifications.\n\nIt will be called the Stop Another Non-Truthful Office Seeker (SANTOS) ACT.\u201d— Ritchie Torres (@Ritchie Torres) 1672365829
Santos had earlier fessed up to at least some of his lies in an interview with The New York Post.
Santos told the Rupert Murdoch owned conservative tabloid he is “embarrassed” by his false and misleading statements but that he nonetheless believes he will be an “effective” House Republican in the new Congress even as questions remain about his education, work history, and even his source of income.
As more of Santos' lies continue to be exposed—subsequent New York Times investigations have exposed possible campaign finance violations due to suspicious expenditures listed on his campaign disclosures—Republicans have largely denounced him and Santos told New York GOP officials he does not plan to run for reelection in 2024.
Social media users condemned Santos' actions and have reiterated their calls for Santos to step down.
\u201cWith any luck, this will be the last lie of his political career.\u201d— Sherry Is Voting Against Fascism \ud83d\udc00\ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udf0a (@Sherry Is Voting Against Fascism \ud83d\udc00\ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udf0a) 1672839935
\u201cYou\u2019d think falsely claiming to be a member of Congress would be a crime, but hey\u2026 there are no rules anymore.\u201d— Lorca Damon (@Lorca Damon) 1672839403
\u201cHe just won't stop. It has to be a disorder at this point.\u201d— Someone's Fianc\u00e9 guys\ud83d\udc51 (@Someone's Fianc\u00e9 guys\ud83d\udc51) 1672816276
\u201cAnother compulsive liar among the GQP\u201d— Unabashed Tree Hugger, @JJrhumm (@Unabashed Tree Hugger, @JJrhumm) 1672821592
\u201cAt the rate the House is going Santos might be indicted before the swearing-in ceremony.\u201d— Maura Willing (@Maura Willing) 1672832310
\u201cjokes aside, this is a guy who literally cannot help himself. Pathological liar. He will lie even when there is no benefit whatsoever to lying\u201d— Shiv Ramdas Traing To Rite Buk (@Shiv Ramdas Traing To Rite Buk) 1672804145
\u201c@Santos4Congress you're beyond pathetic. We are all aware that you are a pathological liar. You're an embarrassment for all New Yorkers!!! Wtf is wrong with you?\u201d— Deraj1503 (@Deraj1503) 1672804318
\u201cAll jokes aside -- has anyone considered that George Santos is in desperate need of a psychiatric intervention??\n\nHis behavior is delusional.\n\nZERO \ud83d\udc4fMEMBERS \ud83d\udc4fOF \ud83d\udc4fTHE \ud83d\udc4fHOUSE \ud83d\udc4fWERE SWORN \ud83d\udc4fIN \ud83d\udc4fTODAY.\u201d— Social\u273dFly (@Social\u273dFly) 1672812660
As the House grapples with a Republican revolt that a defiant McCarthy has vowed will not compel him to drop his bid for the speakership, it seemed pertinent that Santos did not join the members of the GOP who have instead coalesced around Ohio Representative Jim Jordan and voted for McCarthy.
But the acceptance by Republicans of Santos, observed journalist John Nichols in a piece for The Nation, "confirmed that a win-at-any-cost sensibility has now so fully infected the Republican Party that no sin is serious enough to earn a rebuke from its leading members."
The House will reconvene today to decide the fate of the coveted Speaker position and McCarthy has said he will force multiple votes if necessary in order to secure it. Only then will the new members of the 118th Congress be sworn in.
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