NY Rep. elect Santos admits lying about career, college

Category: Top Stories

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. seat / sit / (n.) – an official position in the government that gives someone the right to take part in making decisions
    Example:

    We should make sure that leaders who will get a seat in the government are intelligent and effective.


  2. embellish / ɛmˈbɛl ɪʃ / (v.) – to make a story more interesting by changing some parts of it or adding details that aren’t true
    Example:

    I have a funny friend who always embellishes stories to make us laugh.


  3. resume / ˈre zə meɪ / (n.) – a written summary of one’s personal, professional, and educational backgrounds
    Example:

    I’ve just submitted my resume to my dream company. I hope they contact me soon.


  4. own up / oʊn ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to admit that one has done something wrong
    Example:

    He’s too scared to own up to his mistake.


  5. maternal / məˈtɜr nl / (adj.) – related through someone’s mother
    Example:

    She is my maternal aunt. My mom always talks about how they grew up together.


Article

Read the text below.

Rep.-elect George Santos, R-N.Y., admitted that he lied about his job experience and college education during his successful campaign for a seat in the U.S. House.


In an interview with the New York Post, Santos said: “My sins here are embellishing my resume. I’m sorry.”


He also told the newspaper: “I campaigned talking about the people’s concerns, not my resume,” and added, “I intend to deliver on the promises I made during the campaign.”


The New York Times raised questions about the life story that Santos, 34, had presented during his campaign.


The Queens resident had said he had obtained a degree from Baruch College in New York, but the school said that couldn’t be confirmed.


Santos acknowledged: “I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume.”


He added: “I own up to that. … We do stupid things in life.”


Santos had also said he had worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, but neither company could find any records verifying that.


Santos told the Post he had “never worked directly” for either financial firm, saying he had used a “poor choice of words.”


He told the Post that Link Bridge, an investment company where he was a vice president, did business with both.


Another news outlet, the Jewish American site The Forward, had questioned a claim on Santos’ campaign website that his grandparents “fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII.”


“I never claimed to be Jewish,” Santos told the Post. “I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”


Santos first ran for Congress in 2020 and lost. He ran again in 2022 and won in the district that includes some Long Island suburbs and a small part of Queens.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • In your opinion, what should be the qualifications for running for a government position? Discuss.
  • Why do you think it’s important to check the educational and professional backgrounds of a candidate? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Why do you think Santos lied about his career and education? In your opinion, should he be removed from his government seat? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Santos said that he intends to deliver on the promises he made during the campaign. How do you think people will respond to this statement (ex. they will keep supporting him, they will no longer believe him)? Why or why not? Discuss.