WHY IS GEORGE SANTOS IN CHALLENGING, AND WHO IS HE?

Jr. Bernd Debusmann

After less than a year in office, embattled US Congressman George Santos, who ran on an overblown biography, may be forced out of the House of Representatives.

• Fraud

Numerous federal accusations, including wire fraud, severe identity theft, and conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States, are being brought against the 35-year-old parliament.

In his brief tenure on Capitol Hill, Mr. Santos an acknowledged "terrible liar" has faced multiple allegations of fraud and deceit.

• Jewish

Before he was even inaugurated into office, the New York Republican was embroiled in a slew of scandals, including a nonexistent real estate portfolio, false claims of college degrees, and uncertainty about whether he is Jewish or just "Jewish".

He even claimed that funders that he was involved in the production of the controversial Broadway Spider-Man show, even though he wasn't.

• Dream of George

Mr. Santos promoted himself as "the full embodiment of the American dream" during his campaign, touting his ascent to the top layers of Wall Street and his status as an openly gay child of Brazilian immigrants who later entered politics.

"However, his joyful lap was fleeting"

Mr. Santos' account of his life rapidly came to an end when he revealed that a significant amount of it was made up.

We know the following

• What is Santos's prior history?

As a relative rookie to US politics, Mr. Santos was celebrated last year for being the first openly homosexual Republican to be elected as a non-incumbent to the House of Representatives.

Mr. Santos is a first-generation American who was born in the Queens neighborhood of New York City, according to a biography that his campaign posted online but then revised.

• Family

Before moving to Brazil, his grandfather "fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII," according to the website. He finally moved to the United States "in search of the American dream" with his Brazilian-born parents.

Mr. Santos stated that he attended Baruch College in New York City to further his education before turning into a "prepared Wall Street.

Prior to becoming a "seasoned Wall Street financier and investor" with experience working at famous firms like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, Mr. Santos claimed to have received his education at Baruch College in NYC in New York City.

At addition, he stated that on September 11, 2001, his mother was "in her office in the south tower" of the World Trade Center and that he had "worked hard" for his thirteen properties.

According to the website of his campaign, she lived through the attack but passed away a few years later.

To the new allegations, George Santos enters a not guilty plea.

• What made Santos exaggerate his biography?

A number of articles in The New York Times questioned many aspects of his resume, including his employment history, education, and even his claims to be a standout college volleyball player.

Despite previous claims of being a "proud American Jew," several news agencies were unable to locate any proof that he is Jewish or that his grandparents fled prejudice in Europe.

Following the first reports, Mr. Santos acknowledged that he were exaggerating his history. He never held a degree from an institution, worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, or owned real estate in any part of New York.

His mother, who passed away in 2016, was presumably not in the US on 9/11, it was also found.

He also admitted to the New York Post that he had exaggerated his religious history, calling himself a Catholic but adding that he had claimed to be "Jewish" after discovering that his mother's side of the family was Jewish.

Mr. Santos claimed in an interview with Piers Morgan, who that he made up his life story and biography in order to win over voters in the third district of New York.