Incoming Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is admitting he made up parts of his biography during his run for Congress.
During an interview with The New York Post, Santos admitted he did not graduate from college — claiming he went to Baruch College.
“I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume,” he said in the interview. “I own up to that … We do stupid things in life.”
Additionally, he clarified he did not work at the financial giants of Goldman Sachs or Citigroup.
Santos claimed he used a “poor choice of words” when talking about his employment history.
Instead, he explained he “never worked directly” worked for them. However, he told the Post he worked for a company called Link Bridge as its vice president.
Santos also said during his job at the company, he worked with the two financial companies. He added, “I will be clearer about that. It was stated poorly.”
“My sins here are embellishing my resume. I’m sorry,” he added.
He also insisted he is “not a criminal.”
Santos became the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat as a non-incumbent when he flipped a district held by Democrats in the November election.
He sold himself as a successful son of Brazilian immigrants who went to a public college in New York City and went on to become a “seasoned Wall Street financier and investor.”
Santos also claimed he had “an animal rescue charity that saved more than 2,500 dogs and cats.”
However, a review of his background by The New York Times failed to find evidence to back up his story.
The incoming lawmaker also faced accusations he lied about his sexual orientation after it was reported he was married to a woman and got divorced.
However, Santos explained to the Post, “I dated women in the past. I married a woman. It’s personal stuff.”
“I’m very much gay,” he continued. “I’m OK with my sexuality. People change. I’m one of those people who change.”
Santos signaled he plans to serve in Congress as he vowed, “This [controversy] will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”
