Embattled former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is asking the American people for a second chance as he looks to rebuild his reputation after he became the sixth member of Congress in history to be expelled.
In an extensive interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, published Wednesday, Santos acknowledged many of his lies and apologized for “mistakes” that he made.
“Don’t count me out,” Santos, who was removed from office late last year, said at the end of the 75-minute interview. “I’ve given many people a second chance and I’m asking everybody to please give me a second chance. And I will, you know, come forward and prove to be worth your second chance.”
“And I just want people to look at that and say, so many people make mistakes. We all make mistakes, if you really take a look deep inside, and I am sorry,” he added, when asked what his final message would be to viewers. “And I look forward to continuing to be a voice for those who seek leadership in me.”
Throughout the interview, Morgan repeatedly sought to press Santos for an answer on why he lied in the first place. The New York Republican denied a suggestion that it could be related to a mental disorder, after Morgan inquired about a theory circulating, and he also denied that an answer could be found when looking at his childhood.
Santos called his father the most honest man he’s ever met and said his mother would have “smacked me to hell,” for telling lies. “She was a tough lady … you have no idea” he quipped, adding she would have viewed his conduct as “unacceptable.”
When pressed on his actions, and what his mother would have disapproved of exactly, he said “everything.”
“The fact that I needed to open my mouth and say anything that wasn’t true, she would have just beat me to a crisp,” the former lawmaker said. “She would have pulled out a wooden stick. You don’t know that woman.”
Santos appeared to get choked up when talking about his mother, who he said died seven years ago. He called her his moral compass and said his situation would not have happened had she been alive: “She would have guided me much better.”
The former congressman was ousted from office following the House Ethics Committee’s scathing report suggesting he “violated federal criminal laws.” Santos is also facing 23 criminal charges of wire fraud, identity theft and other campaign finance charges.
Santos spent much of the interview, however, defending himself by pointing at the alleged wrongdoing of some of his former colleagues in the House. He took particular aim at the ethics panel, calling the report “bullshit” and taking aim at Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.), calling him unethical.
He also suggested the Justice Department (DOJ) was more trustworthy than the House Ethics Committee — an opinion likely contrasting some of his former GOP colleagues.
Morgan reviewed several of the lies that Santos has told, some of which are relevant to the federal charges and others not immediately cited in any indictment.
Santos acknowledged he lied about his education and his employment, but still argued a double standard existed. He was hesitant to comment on details related to his DOJ charges.
Asked about allegations that he lied about being a descendant of a Holocaust survivor, Santos maintained this was true and teased a documentary he said would be released later this year to back up his claim.