To Tell the Truth . . . unless

Achieving a position of power requires strict mandates and high expectations. For students, positions such as student body president, members of student council, and club presidents involve high moral and harsh supervision. It is expected of students in influential positions to provide leadership and become well rounded individuals. Student leaders must also become role models for their peers, depositing behavior that does not result in disciplinary actions. The influential leaders of our country would then be expected to present themselves with the same expectations required by student leaders, if not more. However, higher ranking officials seem to experience less scrutiny and are generally excused for their actions.

The 118th Congress meeting entered the House and Senate during the 2022 mid-term election introducing new officials as well as keeping familiar figures in their position. Initially, the most controversial topics in the media were reactions to political campaign commercials, until the republican representative of Long Island and Queens-based 3rd district, George Santos, made headlines and became America’s political liar. Santos ruined his reputation as an educated and ambitious politician after suspicion surrounding his resume circulated the media. On December 19, 2022, the New York Times published an article questioning George Santos’s background and credibility as a political figure. The controversy surrounding Santos’s resume involved fabricated claims including his educational, financial, and employment history that remained consistent on his resume throughout his career, aiding and assisting him when striving for success and helping him attain his current position as a state representative. Essentially, George Santo’s reputation became known as fraudulent.

Before the allegations, Santos claimed his family were of Jewish descent and experienced persecution in Ukraine forcing them to escape to Belgium. Santo’s family eventually settled down in America allowing Santos to pursue academic success. Santos claimed to be a graduate from Baruch College in 2010 with a 3.89 GPA and bachelor degree in economics and finance. Then later established an MBA in International Business at New York University in 2013. Santos quickly rose in Wall Street as an experienced financier and investor, claiming employment with high-profile companies such as Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Santos also claimed to have a family portfolio that consisted of 13 properties around New York.

The publication of the New York Times article confirmed that Santos did not attend or graduate from either college and does not have any form of higher education. Despite claiming employment with Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, Santos never directly worked for them but worked at LinkBridge Investors. Santos does not own any New York property and confirmed he currently resides with his sister in Huntington, Long Beach searching for a place to buy.

Santos revealed to the New York Post, “I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume,”

Santos expectedly experienced public backlash and embarrassment as a congressman but also directed public criticism to other political figures such as Elise Stefanik, fourth ranking republican in the House, who vocally supported Santos during his campaign. Majority of republican congress members have otherwise remained silent about the issue. Participants of the opposing party expected the resignation of Santos along with his apology. Despite the initial uproar, after the swearing in of officials Santos was ultimately excused and forgotten about. It is not the first time a U.S. congressman fabricated their resume and will not be the last, as for George Santos, he remains active in Congress and promises to be more truthful in the future.

For lower ranking officials and student achievers minor inconveniences result in the risk of losing their position. Santos did experience public embarrassment and backlash, but was able to keep his position despite causing controversy nationwide and putting the government’s credibility at risk.