George Santos – live: ‘Ex-partner’ says Santos only cared about fame and power, as FEC filings raise questions

A Brazilian individual claiming to be Rep George Santos’ ex-boyfriend appeared on CNN on Thurdsay and said that Mr Santos only ever cared about “fame and power” and that he expects him to continue to reject calls for his resignation.

And on Tuesday, an amended financial disclosure form with the FEC drew questions from reporters and electoral law experts who noticed some pretty glaring issues.

For starters, there’s two loans — for $500,000 and $125,000 — that are no longer identified as coming from Mr Santos’s personal funds, as they had been previously.

And then there’s the oddly high number of donations just under the $200 limit - an occurrence that immediately raised questions about their legitimacy.

Elsewhere, in a newly-resurfaced interview, Mr Santos claimed that he met financier and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein a few times and pushed the conspiracy theory that he was “murdered” in prison.

Epstein was found dead in his cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex-trafficking children. His death was ruled suicide.

Mr Santos then backtracked over his death altogether, claiming he may actually still be alive.

“I wouldn’t put it past me that he’s still walking around us and we’re all like, ‘Oh my god, the guy is alive,’ and we can’t tell,” he said. “You know what, it’s 2020, anything can happen.”

Key points

• George Santos ‘saddened’ after Republican senator calls him ‘nutty fruitcake bunny boiler’

• Congressman’s amended FEC filing draws new questions

• George Santos claims he survived assassination attempt

• Voters want George Santos to resign, poll finds

• McCarthy says Santos could be ousted from Congress

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

09:45 , John Bowden

George Santos’s colleagues in the House could end up being the final arbiters of judgement for the scandal-ridden New York Republican.

Despite wave after wave of revelations surrounding his past and present fictions and lies, the embattled congressman has remained adamant that he will remain in office. Even in the face of members of his own party calling for his ouster, Mr Santos has stood firm.

But none of that may matter if the machinations of the US House of Representatives conspire against him.

The Independent’s John Bowden has more:

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

Santos is questioned about whether he’s following RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race'

08:00 , John Bowden

Congressman George Santos sure looked like he was nearing the end of his rope on Thursday when an activist encountered him in the halls of Congress and asked him if he was following the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Watch the amusing moment unfold here:

Treasurer named in George Santos’ campaign says he doesn’t work for him

06:45 , John Bowden

George Santos has yet another headache coming his way, thanks to amended filings submitted to the FEC this week.

The embattled New York congressman was already facing calls for his resignation or ouster — from both parties — before his filings with the Federal Election Commission this week. Now, those filings are becoming the source of problem after problem, each with the potential to run afoul of the law.

The latest issue flagged by reporters with ABC News on Thursday stems from filings that several fundraising committees working on behalf of the Santos 2022 campaign made with the agency specifying a change in the individual assigned as treasurer for the committees. Those committees are now listed as having their financial operations overseen by Thomas Datwyler, a longtime specialist in political campaign finances.

But there’s just one problem: Mr Datwyler adamantly told ABC News that he is not working for the Santos campaign, and in fact had informed them of that before the FEC filings were submitted.

Read more:

Treasurer named in George Santos’ campaign says he doesn’t work for him

Brazilian claiming to be Santos’ ex-boyfriend says congressman only ever cared about ‘fame and power’

05:06 , John Bowden

A Brazilian individual claiming to be Rep George Santos’ ex-boyfriend appeared on CNN and said that Mr Santos only ever cared about “fame and power” and that he expects him to continue to reject calls for his resignation.

Pedro Vilarva has previously said that he entered into a romantic relationship with Mr Santos in 2014 when he was just 18 years old and the future Congressman was 26 — and that their relationship was full of dishonesty on Mr Santos’ part.

Abe Asher has the full story:

Ex-boyfriend claims George Santos only ever cared about ‘fame and power’

Santos claimed Jeffrey Epstein could be alive in 2020 interview

04:15 , John Bowden

Embattled GOP congressman George Santos claimed in August 2020 that Jeffrey Epstein “could still be alive” – one year after the paedophile killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell.

In a newly-resurfaced interview, Mr Santos – who has already been caught out over several lies about his past, background and family – claimed that he met Epstein a few times and pushed the conspiracy theory that he was “murdered” in prison.

Epstein was found dead in his cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex-trafficking children. His death was ruled suicide.

Mr Santos then backtracked over his death altogether, claiming he may actually still be alive.

“I wouldn’t put it past me that he’s still walking around us and we’re all like, ‘Oh my god, the guy is alive,’ and we can’t tell,” he said. “You know what, it’s 2020, anything can happen.”

George Santos claimed paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is ‘still alive’ in 2020 interview

George Santos now claims he survived assassination attempt

03:15 , John Bowden

Embattled GOP Rep George Santos has now come under scrutiny for claiming that he survived an unidentified assassination attempt.

The Republican, who has already admitted to making several lies during his run for Congress, made the wild allegation during an interview with Brazilian podcast “Rádio Novelo Apresenta” last month.

“We have already suffered an attempt on my life, an assassination attempt, a threatening letter, having to have the police – a police escort standing in front of our house,” he claimed.

Mr Santos did not elaborate on the alleged hit plot and is not thought to have mentioned it publicly prior to this. During the interview he also claimed he was mugged in on Fifth Avenue in New York City and that his Florida home was vandalised.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander:

Video emerges of George Santos saying he’s the victim of an assassination plot

Santos FEC filing draws new questions

02:15 , John Bowden

George Santos filed an amended financial disclosure form with the FEC on Tuesday, and within minutes reporters and electoral law experts were noticing some pretty glaring issues. For starters, there’s two loans — for $500,000 and $125,000 — that are no longer identified as coming from Mr Santos’s personal funds, as they had been previously.

And then there’s the oddly high number of donations just under the $200 limit - an occurrence that immediately raised questions about their legitimacy.

It seems like the New York congressman has another set of questions to answer as the saga of his arrival in Washington continues.

Santos delivers first House floor speech

01:15 , John Bowden

George Santos delivered a speech on the House floor on Wednesday, his first as a member of Congress.

Instead of addressing the myriad of scandals enveloping him on a near-daily basis, the New York Republican instead spoke in favour of a resolution condemning the actions of Iran’s government in the face of widespread protests.

Watch here:

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

00:30 , John Bowden

George Santos’s colleagues in the House could end up being the final arbiters of judgement for the scandal-ridden New York Republican.

Despite wave after wave of revelations surrounding his past and present fictions and lies, the embattled congressman has remained adamant that he will remain in office. Even in the face of members of his own party calling for his ouster, Mr Santos has stood firm.

But none of that may matter if the machinations of the US House of Representatives conspire against him.

The Independent’s John Bowden has more:

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

Comedian claps back after George Santos complaint: ‘My pathological liar character can’t hold a candle to you!’

Thursday 26 January 2023 23:45 , John Bowden

Comedian Jon Lovitz has clapped back at Congressman George Santos after the New York Republican complained about the comedians appearing on late night talk shows to mock him after he was caught in a litany of lies.

“I have now been enshrined in late night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all TERRIBLE so far. Jon Lovitz is supposed to be one of the greatest comedians of all time and that was embarrassing – for him not me! These comedians need to step their game up,” Mr Santos tweeted on Monday night.

“Finally!!! You’re honest about something!!!” Mr Lovitz responded on Twitter.

See the rest of their exchange in The Independent:

Comedians let rip as George Santos complains about ‘terrible’ impressions of him

McCarthy snaps at reporters when questioned about George Santos

Thursday 26 January 2023 23:00 , John Bowden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dressed down a reporter in the US Capitol during a press conference on Tuesday after the reporter questioned him over why he wasn’t doing more to punish George Santos for repeatedly lying to voters and the media.

CNN’s Manu Raju began the exchange on Tuesday by questioning Mr McCarthy over whether his resistance to calling for Mr Santos to resign, a step several of his GOP colleagues have taken, was due to his desire to protect a single-digit Republican majority in the chamber.

Then, a second reporter jumped in, asking why Mr McCarthy was not calling for Mr Santos to be stripped of committee memberships.

Watch Mr McCarthy’s response here:

Kevin McCarthy loses his cool at reporters questioning his backing of George Santos

In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound

Thursday 26 January 2023 22:15 , John Bowden

Long Island’s Gold Coast is known to many as the backdrop for a story about a fictional character who concocted fabulous tales about his past to climb the ranks of New York’s high society in a ceaseless quest for the object of his desire.

I’m talking, of course, about George Santos.

Nearly 100 years after F Scott Fitzgerald set The Great Gatsby in these same opulent shores, the 34-year-old Republican congressman has once again drawn the eyes of the world onto the eastward-stretching leg of New York City, and invited comparisons to the titular character of that Great American Novel along the way.

Where Jay Gatsby ultimately failed in his efforts, Santos succeeded in his. A man who repeatedly lied about his own history, from claiming his mother died on 9/11, to falsifying his education and net worth — not for love, but for donations, votes and influence — was elected to a seat in one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the world.

So, how did he do it? How did he fool so many people? How did no one know? The truth is, many did. But no one listened to them.

The Independent’s Richard Hall reports from on the ground in Long Island:

In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound

Santos is questioned about whether he’s following RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race'

Thursday 26 January 2023 21:30 , John Bowden

Congressman George Santos sure looked like he was nearing the end of his rope on Thursday when an activist encountered him in the halls of Congress and asked him if he was following the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Watch the amusing moment unfold here:

ICYMI: More footage of George Santos at drag show surfaces

Thursday 26 January 2023 20:45 , John Bowden

The Twitter account PatriotTakes, operated by political activists aligned with the Democratic Party, has surfaced another Brazilian news clip revealing George Santos in drag dancing with other drag queens. He has denied particpating extensively in the culture.

It isn’t exactly clear where the clip is from, but Mr Santos can be seen wearing the same costume he wore in the original pictures provided to TMZ and other news outlets by a drag queen who knew him at the time, Eula Rochard.

George Santos claims paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is ‘still alive’ in resurfaced 2020 interview

Thursday 26 January 2023 20:00 , John Bowden

Add George Santos to the list of members who find themselves part of Congress’s growing conspiracy caucus.

In a 2020 interview resurfaced this week by Insider, the House’s most controversial new member insists that paedophile and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in prison — only to minutes later suggest that actually, the shadowy financier may in fact be alive and well.

The interview was with right-wing podcast The Rory Sauter Show, which Mr Santos appeared on in August of 2020. It came as part of his first congressional run, which would end in failure months later.

Read more from John Bowden:

George Santos claimed paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is ‘still alive’ in 2020 interview

WATCH: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground

Thursday 26 January 2023 19:15 , John Bowden

George Santos made waves on the political scene of Washington D.C. by flipping New York’s 3rd congressional district seat in the November midterms, a once reliable Democratic seat. But, soon, reports emerged that many things in his résumé and the life story told to the public wasn’t all strictly true. Santos is refusing to stand aside as the controversy mounts but how long can that position hold?

The Independent’s Senior US Correspondent Richard Hall visited Long Island and Nassau county to find out the truth, trying to track down the real George Santos.

Watch here:

Santos FEC filings draw alarm from experts

Thursday 26 January 2023 18:30 , John Bowden

George Santos filed an amended financial disclosure form with the FEC on Tuesday, and within minutes reporters and electoral law experts were noticing some pretty glaring issues.

For starters, there’s two loans — for $500,000 and $125,000 — that are no longer identified as coming from Mr Santos’s personal funds, as they had been previously.

And then there’s the oddly high number of donations just under the $200 limit - an occurrence that immediately raised questions about their legitimacy.

It seems like the New York congressman has another set of questions to answer as the saga of his arrival in Washington continues.

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

Thursday 26 January 2023 17:45 , John Bowden

George Santos’s colleagues in the House could end up being the final arbiters of judgement for the scandal-ridden New York Republican.

Despite wave after wave of revelations surrounding his past and present fictions and lies, the embattled congressman has remained adamant that he will remain in office. Even in the face of members of his own party calling for his ouster, Mr Santos has stood firm.

But none of that may matter if the machinations of the US House of Representatives conspire against him.

The Independent’s John Bowden has more:

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

Voters strongly favour embattled Rep George Santos resigning, poll finds

Thursday 26 January 2023 17:00 , John Bowden

A majority of New Yorkers want embattled Republican Representative George Santos to resign amid a flurry of reports that he fabricated large parts of his life story, according to a new Siena College poll.

A total of 59 per cent of registered voters said Mr Santos should resign from Congress, with 64 per cent of Democrats saying he should. A plurality of Republicans – 49 per cent – want Mr Santos to resign as well. That comes despite the fact that Mr Santos flipped a district on Long Island that had voted overwhelmingly for President Joe Biden.

Read more:

Voters strongly favour embattled Rep George Santos resigning, poll finds

Santos delivers first House floor speech

Thursday 26 January 2023 16:15 , John Bowden

George Santos delivered a speech on the House floor on Wednesday, his first as a member of Congress.

Instead of addressing the myriad of scandals enveloping him on a near-daily basis, the New York Republican instead spoke in favour of a resolution condemning the actions of Iran’s government in the face of widespread protests.

Watch here:

George Santos ‘saddened’ after Republican senator calls him ‘nutty fruitcake bunny boiler’

Thursday 26 January 2023 15:30 , John Bowden

Embattled New York Republican George Santos is “saddened” that his fellow party member John Kennedy called him “nutty as a fruitcake” and a “bunny boiler” – a reference to Glenn Close’s unhinged, psychotic character in the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction.

Mr Santos responded to the Louisiana Republican’s comments on Tuesday. “I am saddened that a distinguished senator from the GOP, whom I’ve respected would use such derogatory language against me,” he said.

“Language like that is hurtful and divisive, and has no place in Congress,” he added.

Read the full story here:

George Santos ‘saddened’ after Republican senator calls him ‘bunny boiler’

Kevin McCarthy loses his cool at reporters questioning his backing of George Santos

Thursday 26 January 2023 14:42 , John Bowden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dressed down a reporter in the US Capitol during a press conference on Tuesday after the reporter questioned him over why he wasn’t doing more to punish George Santos for repeatedly lying to voters and the media.

CNN’s Manu Raju began the exchange on Tuesday by questioning Mr McCarthy over whether his resistance to calling for Mr Santos to resign, a step several of his GOP colleagues have taken, was due to his desire to protect a single-digit Republican majority in the chamber.

Then, a second reporter jumped in, asking why Mr McCarthy was not calling for Mr Santos to be stripped of committee memberships.

Watch Mr McCarthy’s response here:

Kevin McCarthy loses his cool at reporters questioning his backing of George Santos

In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound

Thursday 26 January 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Long Island’s Gold Coast is known to many as the backdrop for a story about a fictional character who concocted fabulous tales about his past to climb the ranks of New York’s high society in a ceaseless quest for the object of his desire.

I’m talking, of course, about George Santos.

Nearly 100 years after F Scott Fitzgerald set The Great Gatsby in these same opulent shores, the 34-year-old Republican congressman has once again drawn the eyes of the world onto the eastward-stretching leg of New York City, and invited comparisons to the titular character of that Great American Novel along the way.

Where Jay Gatsby ultimately failed in his efforts, Santos succeeded in his. A man who repeatedly lied about his own history, from claiming his mother died on 9/11, to falsifying his education and net worth — not for love, but for donations, votes and influence — was elected to a seat in one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the world.

So, how did he do it? How did he fool so many people? How did no one know? The truth is, many did. But no one listened to them.

The Independent’s Richard Hall reports from on the ground in Long Island:

In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound

Treasurer named in George Santos’ campaign says he doesn’t work for him

Thursday 26 January 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

The treasurer named in George Santos’ campaign has said that he doesn’t work for the congressman, casting new doubts on his Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

Thomas Datwyler, a campaign finance treasurer who has worked with many other political organisations, was named as treasurer of several fundraising committees associated with Mr Santos when they filed amended documents on Wednesday.

Mr Datwyler has spoken out to say that he does not work with Mr Santos and that the documents were submitted without his consent.

“On Monday, we informed the Santos campaign that Mr. Datwyler would not be serving as treasurer,” his attorney Derek Ross told ABC News.

“It appears that there’s been a disconnect between that conversation and the filings today, which we did not authorise.”

Comedian claps back after George Santos complaint: ‘My pathological liar character can’t hold a candle to you!’

Thursday 26 January 2023 13:00 , John Bowden

Comedian Jon Lovitz has clapped back at Congressman George Santos after the New York Republican complained about the comedians appearing on late night talk shows to mock him after he was caught in a litany of lies.

“I have now been enshrined in late night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all TERRIBLE so far. Jon Lovitz is supposed to be one of the greatest comedians of all time and that was embarrassing – for him not me! These comedians need to step their game up,” Mr Santos tweeted on Monday night.

“Finally!!! You’re honest about something!!!” Mr Lovitz responded on Twitter.

See the rest of their exchange in The Independent:

Comedians let rip as George Santos complains about ‘terrible’ impressions of him

WATCH: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground

Thursday 26 January 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

George Santos made waves on the political scene of Washington D.C. by flipping New York’s 3rd congressional district seat in the November midterms, a once reliable Democratic seat. But, soon, reports emerged that many things in his résumé and the life story told to the public wasn’t all strictly true. Santos is refusing to stand aside as the controversy mounts but how long can that position hold?

The Independent’s Senior US Correspondent Richard Hall visited Long Island and Nassau county to find out the truth, trying to track down the real George Santos.

Watch here:

George Santos ‘saddened’ after Republican senator calls him ‘nutty fruitcake bunny boiler’

Thursday 26 January 2023 12:00 , John Bowden

Embattled New York Republican George Santos is “saddened” that his fellow party member John Kennedy called him “nutty as a fruitcake” and a “bunny boiler” – a reference to Glenn Close’s unhinged, psychotic character in the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction.

Mr Santos responded to the Louisiana Republican’s comments on Tuesday. “I am saddened that a distinguished senator from the GOP, whom I’ve respected would use such derogatory language against me,” he said.

“Language like that is hurtful and divisive, and has no place in Congress,” he added.

Read the full story here:

George Santos ‘saddened’ after Republican senator calls him ‘bunny boiler’

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

Thursday 26 January 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp

George Santos’s colleagues in the House could end up being the final arbiters of judgement for the scandal-ridden New York Republican.

Despite wave after wave of revelations surrounding his past and present fictions and lies, the embattled congressman has remained adamant that he will remain in office. Even in the face of members of his own party calling for his ouster, Mr Santos has stood firm.

But none of that may matter if the machinations of the US House of Representatives conspire against him.

The Independent’s John Bowden has more:

Here’s how George Santos could still be removed from office

George Santos claimed Epstein may still be alive in 2020 interview

Thursday 26 January 2023 11:04 , Rachel Sharp

Embattled GOP congressman George Santos claimed in August 2020 that Jeffrey Epstein “could still be alive” – one year after the paedophile killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell.

In a newly-resurfaced interview, Mr Santos – who has already been caught out over several lies about his past, background and family – claimed that he met Epstein a few times and pushed the conspiracy theory that he was “murdered” in prison.

Epstein was found dead in his cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex-trafficking children. His death was ruled suicide.

Mr Santos then backtracked over his death altogether, claiming he may actually still be alive.

“I wouldn’t put it past me that he’s still walking around us and we’re all like, ‘Oh my god, the guy is alive,’ and we can’t tell,” he said. “You know what, it’s 2020, anything can happen.”

Kevin McCarthy loses his cool at reporters questioning his backing of George Santos

Thursday 26 January 2023 08:30 , John Bowden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dressed down a reporter in the US Capitol during a press conference on Tuesday after the reporter questioned him over why he wasn’t doing more to punish George Santos for repeatedly lying to voters and the media.

CNN’s Manu Raju began the exchange on Tuesday by questioning Mr McCarthy over whether his resistance to calling for Mr Santos to resign, a step several of his GOP colleagues have taken, was due to his desire to protect a single-digit Republican majority in the chamber.

Then, a second reporter jumped in, asking why Mr McCarthy was not calling for Mr Santos to be stripped of committee memberships.

Watch Mr McCarthy’s response here:

Kevin McCarthy loses his cool at reporters questioning his backing of George Santos

Santos is questioned about whether he’s following RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race'

05:08 , John Bowden

Congressman George Santos sure looked like he was nearing the end of his rope on Thursday when an activist encountered him in the halls of Congress and asked him if he was following the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Watch the amusing moment unfold here: